The Japanese Swimming Federation (JSF) has expressed disappointment that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics schedule is likely to cater for U.S. audiences, depriving local television viewers a chance to watch finals in a prime-time slot.
The programme for the swimming sessions was approved by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) on Thursday but the exact timings for events at the Aquatics Centre were not released.
Media reports have suggested that the delay was due to American broadcaster NBC’s desire for swimming finals to be held in the morning to enable peak viewership in the United States.
Although the complete swimming schedule has yet to be ratified by the IOC and Tokyo organisers, the JSF conceded defeat in its attempts to hold the finals — one of the most popular Olympic events in Japan — later in the day.
“Even though finals will be held in morning time, we will continue to make efforts to achieve the result that can fulfil expectations of Japanese nationals.”
At the 2008 Beijing Games, the last Summer Olympics held in Asia, the swimming finals were held in the morning and a repeat of that scheduling is fully expected in Tokyo.
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