Two-thirds of Tokyo 2020’s corporate sponsors are undecided on whether to continue supporting the Games now the event has been pushed to 20...
Two-thirds of Tokyo 2020’s corporate sponsors are undecided on whether to continue supporting the Games now the event has been pushed to 2021, according to a new survey.
In the poll published late Thursday by Japanese public broadcaster NHK, 65% of the sponsors surveyed said they had not made up their minds about whether to extend their financial backing for another year.
According to NHK, some companies voiced concerns that their promotional activities around the Games could be curtailed due to crowd-reduction measures imposed against the coronavirus.
They were also worried the Games could be scrapped altogether, with several senior Olympic officials saying the Tokyo Olympics must take place next year or not at all.
Many also said they had not decided whether to extend their sponsorship because they had not yet opened negotiations with the organisers – suggesting they may be open to persuasion.
More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents said coronavirus had taken a toll on their own financial situation, as Olympic organisers face having to fund the unprecedented postponement of the Games.
Tokyo 2020 organisers have refused to put a price tag on the additional costs of postponing the Games by one year, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set aside $800 million.
According to the latest budget, the Games were due...
