TOKYO (JAPAN) – In an attempt to simplify the Olympics ceremonies, Tokyo Olympics officials on Wednesday announced a new creative team.
The new team headed by Hiroshi Sasaki, one of the seven directors previously responsible for the opening and closing events, is in charge of redesigning the opening and closing ceremonies at next year’s Games.
“Conditions are fairly tough… But, at this stage, honestly, progress isn’t being made yet,” Sasaki told a press conference, as his team is running on a tight schedule to overhaul plans for the ceremonies.
The Games scheduled to commence this summer was postponed by a year due to the pandemic . Since then, organisers and government officials have been looking at ways to cut costs, simplify the Games and safeguard athletes and spectators.
In a bid to contain the spread of COVID at next year’s games, organisers said they would spend $900 million on measures.
Sasaki stated that he envisions the ceremonies as an opportunity to show the world a message of “breakthrough or hope” during the pandemic.