Original article published on Reuters (07/24/18) by Jack Tarrant

The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee says they may be forced to shift test event schedules due to construction delays at key venues. They note the Olympics Aquatics Center and the Sea Forest Waterway were two months behind schedule, even though they will be completed well ahead of the Games' opening ceremony on July 24, 2020. The latest progress reports indicate that the Aquatics Center would not be completed until February 2020, while completion of the Sea Forest Waterway will be reshuffled from March 2019 to May 2019. "We are working closely with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the respective federations to be able to sort out and possibly modify the test event schedule," says Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Masa Takaya. "Other than that, the schedules on the permanent venues are absolutely right on track." Organizers are optimistic that most venues will be ready to host the international federations and athletes that come for the Games. Their hopes also are buttressed by the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) approval of both the Olympics' session schedule and ticket prices for locals. "We were able to see the IOC's full satisfaction with the Games' preparation," Takaya emphasizes. "We are absolutely right on track to deliver the Games right on time."

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