Tokyo Olympics head keen to host games in daylight

Scheduling of many popular Olympic events is dominated by lucrative television contracts, particularly with the American network NBC.

Yoshiro Mori (right) and IOC member John Coates at a press conference in Tokyo.

The head of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics says he favours moving to daylight saving time so sports events can be held in cooler temperatures.

Yoshiro Mori says “we can use this opportunity of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the government to make a bold decision. I have asked the government to seriously consider it.”

Mori is the president of the local organising committee. He was speaking on Tuesday at the opening of meetings with representatives of the International Olympic Committee.

Mori’s support for moving the clocks forward in Japan comes after a deadly heat wave this summer in Tokyo. It has also met strong opposition.

Mori turned down suggestions of switching the games to October when temperatures are cooler. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics were held in October. He says contracts have been signed “and we must abide by our commitments.”

Scheduling of many popular Olympic events is dominated by lucrative television contracts, particularly with the American network NBC. The networks want events to take place at advantageous times for their audiences. For Tokyo, this could move swimming times to the morning so they can be view live in the evening in the United States, as happened in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics.

There is some local resentment of scheduling events to accommodate foreign broadcasters.