Tokyo Olympics organizers, IOC say preparation of Games 'firmly on track'

TOKYO - The organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday that preparation work for the summer games are "firmly on track," a day before the 2020 countdown hits the one-year mark.

"One year to go. The excitement is growing here," said John Coates, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission, at a press conference.

"We're very pleased that the delivery of the games remains firmly on track," he said.

Coates, who has just concluded the 10th project review meeting between Tokyo 2020 and IOC, said that there has been an unprecedented level of interest in ticket sales with 3.2 million tickets sold in the first phase.

"We've had over 200,000 people apply for 80,000 volunteer positions. You have the contribution from people all over the country, close to 80,000 tons of used mobile phones and electronic devices for production of the medals," he said.

The two-day project review meeting in Tokyo involved the long-standing issues of heat, transportation and sustainability. In response, Coates said that organizers have shifted into operation mode as the first major phase of test events kicked off late last month.

"We're learning from the test events," Coates said. "There's little things that each of the federations will raise, be addressed, and we'll make sure that everything's 100 percent for the games," he added.