TOKYO: Expenses for measures to be taken against the novel coronavirus during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer are expected to reach the scale of around 100 billion yen as of now, it was learned Monday.

Separately, the games’ organizing committee estimates the additional costs resulting from the postponement of the events, initially scheduled this summer, at about 200 billion yen.

The Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the organizing committee started in September talks on coronavirus measures for the Tokyo Games, with the state leading the discussions. A liaison committee among them is expected to compile an interim report on the matter in early December, informed sources said.

The details and costs of the measures could vary, however, depending on the state of infections next year, which is difficult to predict, according to the sources. The central and Tokyo governments, and the committee plan to determine next spring whether to set limits on the number of spectators at competition venues.

The ratio of additional costs to be borne by the state, Tokyo and the committee is slated to be decided by the end of this year.

The fifth version of the budget plan for the Tokyo Games is expected to be released in late December. Under the fourth version, announced late last year, before a decision on the postponement, the costs for the games were forecast at 1.35 trillion yen. The decision to put off the Olympics and Paralympics due to the coronavirus pandemic was made in March this year.

JIJI Press