World sailing rows back on Tokyo 2020 criticism

After issuing sharp criticism of preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, the world sailing federation said Monday that organisers had made much progress as it held a test event at the 2020 venue.

In April, World Sailing said Tokyo 2020 was well behind schedule in terms of its reparations, with concerns over fishing fleets operating on the course, and over security.

This led IOC coordination commission chairman John Coates to warn 2020 organisers they had to be "prepared to answer these questions when they are raised", or confidence could waver.

But speaking at a World Cup series event at the Olympic venue of Enoshima island near Tokyo, a World Sailing official said that they had "really seen a big change."

"We had some concerns at the beginning of the year but we have seen a huge amount of activities over the last few months leading up to this first test event and World Cup," Alastair Fox, director of events for World Sailing, told reporters.

Fox said World Sailing was treating the ...