Radical reforms to staging the Olympic Games that were passed by the International Olympic Committee in February could have a significant impact in Japan for many years to come.
With Tokyo two years away from hosting the Summer Olympics and Sapporo expected to bid for the 2026 Winter Games, the 118 new measures — collectively known as "The New Norm" — encourage host cities to plan the games in line with their own long-term development needs, with a focus on sustainability and driving down costs.
The changes are, in large part, a reaction to the public opposition to hosting the games that has sunk the Olympic ambitions of several European and North American cities in recent years.