Jump to content

Venues of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, hosted the Ceremonies and Athletics.

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the "Games of the XXXII Olympiad", was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan, from 23 July to 8 August 2021. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, it was postponed in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was held largely behind closed doors with no spectators permitted under the state of emergency.[a] Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes.[1]

The 2020 Summer Paralympics followed two weeks later between 25 August and 5 September 2021.

Venues and infrastructure

[edit]
Ariake Arena
Aquatics Centre
Yokohama Stadium – Baseball, softball

The transformation of Tokyo in preparation for the Olympics can be seen as part of a long process of urban planning and development that encompasses several major cycles. Urban studies scholar Faure notes that "The urban development strategy of the Tokyo Olympic urban project is the result of a long-time political compromise regarding Tokyo Bay between the ruling party, the TMG, and the central government." Examining the complex relationship between local ward development plans and metropolis-wide strategies pursued by the TMG (Tokyo Metropolitan Government), Faure notes that "the urban legacy of Tokyo 2020 is composed of a series of decisions beginning from the submission of the bid to the post-Olympic period, and extending over 9 years if we consider only the preparatory period until the legacy works (2013–2022), and over 30 years if we look at the origin of the selected Olympic sites and the previous bids for the 2016 Games and the 1994 Universal Expo."[2]

In February 2012, it was announced that former Tokyo's National Stadium, the central venue for the 1964 Summer Olympics, would undergo a ¥100 billion renovation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Summer Olympics.[3] In November 2012, the Japan Sport Council announced it was taking bids for proposed stadium designs. Of the 46 finalists, Zaha Hadid Architects was awarded the project, which would replace the old stadium with a new 80,000-seat stadium. There was criticism of the Zaha Hadid design—which was compared to a bicycle helmet and regarded as clashing with the surrounding Meiji Shrine—and widespread disapproval of the costs, even with attempts to revise and "optimize" the design.[4]

In June 2015, the government announced it was planning to reduce the new stadium's permanent capacity to 65,000 in its athletics configuration (although with the option to add up to 15,000 temporary seats for football) as a further cost-saving measure.[5][6] The original plans to build a retractable roof were also scrapped.[7] As a result of public opposition to the increasing costs of the stadium, which reached ¥252 billion, the government ultimately chose to reject Zaha Hadid's design entirely and selected a new design by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Inspired by traditional temples and with a lower profile, Kuma's design had a budget of ¥149 billion. Changes in plans prevented the new stadium from being completed in time for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as originally intended.[8] National Stadium was inaugurated on 21 December 2019 and is named Olympic Stadium during 2020 Olympic Games.[9]

Of the 33 competition venues in Tokyo, 28 are within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of the Olympic Village, with eleven new venues which were constructed.[10] On 16 October 2019, the IOC announced that there were plans to re-locate the marathon and racewalking events to Sapporo for heat concerns.[11] The plans were made official on 1 November 2019 after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike accepted the IOC's decision, despite her belief that the events should have remained in Tokyo.[12]

Heritage Zone

[edit]

Six venues for eight sports are located within the central business area of Tokyo, northwest of the Olympic Village. Three of these venues were originally constructed for the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Venue Events Olympics Capacity Status
Japan National Stadium
(known as Olympic Stadium during the games)*
Opening and closing ceremonies 68,000 Built for the games[13]
Athletics (track and field)
Nippon Budokan†† Judo 14,471 Existing
Yoyogi National Gymnasium Handball 13,291
Kokugikan Arena Boxing 11,098
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium Table tennis 10,000
Karate
Tokyo International Forum Weightlifting 5,012

*Built on the site of the old National Stadium (used for the 1964 Summer Olympics)
Originally constructed for the 1964 Summer Olympics †† It was not specifically built for the 1964 Games, but was used for the same functions.

Tokyo Bay Zone

[edit]

There are 13 venues planned for 15 sports located in the vicinity of Tokyo Bay, southeast of the Olympic Village, predominantly on Ariake, Odaiba and the surrounding artificial islands. The flame cauldron was installed at Tokyo Waterfront City on Ariake West Canal.

Venue Events Capacity Status
Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre Canoeing (slalom) 8,000 Built for the games
Oi Hockey Stadium Field hockey 15,000 Built for the games[14]
Tokyo Aquatics Centre Aquatics (swimming, diving, artistic swimming) 15,000 Built for the games[15]
Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Water polo[16] 3,635 Existing
Yumenoshima Park Archery 7,000 Built for the games[17]
Ariake Arena Volleyball 12,000 Built for the games
Ariake Urban Sports Park BMX racing, 6,600 Completed
BMX freestyle 5,000
Skateboarding 7,000
Ariake Gymnastics Centre Gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, trampoline) 10,000 Built for the games[18]
Ariake Tennis Park (Ariake Coliseum) Tennis 20,000 = 10,000 center court; 5,000 court 1; 3,000 court 2; 2,000 match courts (8x250) Existing, renovated
Odaiba Marine Park Triathlon 5,000 seated, unlimited standing room along route Existing with temporary stands
Aquatics (marathon swimming)
Shiokaze Park Beach volleyball 12,000 Temporary
Central Breakwater and Sea Forest Waterway Equestrian (eventing) 20,000 Existing with temporary infrastructure
Rowing
Canoeing (sprint)
Aomi Urban Sports Park 3x3 basketball 7,100 Temporary
Sport climbing 8,400

Outlying venues

[edit]

There are 16 venues for 16 sports situated farther than 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the Olympic Village.

Venue Events Capacity Status
Camp Asaka Shooting 3,200 Existing, renovated
Musashino Forest Sport Plaza Modern pentathlon (fencing) 10,000 Built for the games
Badminton[19]
Musashinonomori Park, Fuchū[20] Road cycling (start road races) Temporary
Tokyo Stadium Football (opening round matches) 49,970[21] Existing
Modern pentathlon (excluding fencing)
Rugby sevens
Saitama Super Arena Basketball 22,000[22]
Enoshima Sailing 10,000[23] Existing with temporary stands
Makuhari Messe Fencing 6,000
Taekwondo 8,000
Wrestling
Tokyo Equestrian Park, Setagaya Equestrian (dressage, jumping)[24] 9,300
Kasumigaseki Country Club Golf 30,000[25][26]
Izu Velodrome, Shizuoka Track cycling 5,000[27] Existing, expanded
Izu Mountain Bike Course [ja], Shizuoka Mountain biking[27] 11,500 Existing
Yokohama Stadium Baseball 30,000[28] Existing
Softball
Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium Baseball (opening match) 30,000 Existing, renovated
Softball (opening match)[29]
Fuji Speedway Road cycling
(finish road races, time trial)
22,000 Existing
Odori Park Athletics (Marathon and Race walking) 17,300[30] Existing
Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach [ja], Chiba Surfing 6,000[31] Existing

Football venues

[edit]
Venue Location Events Matches Capacity Status
International Stadium Yokohama[32] Yokohama Men's and Women's preliminaries and quarter-final, Women's semi-final, finals, Men's final [33] 12 70,000 Existing
Tokyo Stadium Tokyo Men's and Women's opening round 4 49,000
Saitama Stadium Saitama Men's and Women's preliminaries and quarter-final, Men's semi-final and 3rd place play-off 11 62,000
Miyagi Stadium Sendai Men's and Women's preliminaries and quarter-final 10 49,000
Kashima Soccer Stadium Kashima Men's and Women's preliminaries, quarter-final and semi-final, Women's 3rd place play-off 10 40,728
Sapporo Dome Sapporo Men's and Women's preliminaries 10 42,000

Non-competition venues

[edit]
The Tokyo Big Sight Conference Tower was used as the IBC/MPC complex.
Venue Events
Hotel Okura Tokyo Olympic Family Hotel
Harumi Futo Olympic Village
Tokyo Big Sight International Broadcast Center (IBC)
Media Press Center (MPC)

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Overseas spectators were first banned in March 2021, then followed by residents of Japan in July of that year to avoid any risk of a superspreading event.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Multiple sources:
    • McDonald, Scott (25 March 2020). "The Reason why Olympics in 2021 will still be called the 2020 Olympic Games". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
    • Denyer, Simon; Maese, Rick (20 March 2021). "Tokyo Olympics organizers ban spectators from outside Japan in pandemic-control measure". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
    • "Tokyo to be put under state of emergency for duration of 2020 Olympic Games". The Guardian. 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  2. ^ Faure, Alexandre (2 January 2023). "How the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were embedded in urban planning documents: The enforcement of a metropolitan strategy in the Bay Area". Contemporary Japan. 35 (1): 136–157. doi:10.1080/18692729.2023.2169462. ISSN 1869-2729.
  3. ^ Himmer, Alastair (6 February 2012). "Rugby-Tokyo stadium set for billion dollar facelift". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  4. ^ Wainwright, Oliver (6 November 2014). "Zaha Hadid's Tokyo Olympic stadium slammed as a 'monumental mistake' and a 'disgrace to future generations'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  5. ^ "新国立、整備費2500億円 従来デザイン維持で決着". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  6. ^ "国立競技場将来構想有識者会議". 日本スポーツ振興センター. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Government drops plan to build retractable roof on Olympic stadium as costs soar". The Japan Times. Kyodo. 29 July 2015. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Tokyo Olympic stadium gets new, cheaper design". BBC News. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  9. ^ "All eyes on Tokyo's Olympic Stadium with 100 days to go | FEATURE | World Athletics". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Tokyo 2020 candidature file – section 8 – Sports and Venues" (PDF). Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  11. ^ Takahashi, Ryusei (17 October 2019). "IOC planning to move Tokyo Olympic marathon north to Sapporo in bid to avoid heat". The Japan Times. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  12. ^ Denyer, Simon; Kashiwagi, Akiko (1 November 2019). "Cool runnings: After heated dispute, Tokyo agrees to shift Olympic marathons to more clement climes". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Olympics-Tokyo finishes building stadium for 2020". National Post. Reuters. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Oi Hockey Stadium". 2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp. Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation. 2015. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Grand opening of Tokyo Aquatics Centre gives boost to athletes". Tokyo 2020. 26 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  16. ^ Originally to be held at Water Polo Arena in Koto, Tokyo; venue moved in June 2015. "東京五輪、26競技の会場決定 自転車・サッカー除き". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Yumenoshima Park Archery Field Hits the Bullseye". Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Unveil Completed Ariake Gymnastics Centre". 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  19. ^ Badminton originally to be held at Youth Plaza Arena; venue moved in June 2015. "東京五輪、26競技の会場決定 自転車・サッカー除き". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  20. ^ Butler, Nick (9 August 2018). "Tokyo 2020 unveil cycling road races courses for Olympic Games". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  21. ^ Rugby sevens originally to be held at National Olympic Stadium; venue moved in June 2015. "東京五輪、26競技の会場決定 自転車・サッカー除き". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  22. ^ Originally to be held at Youth Plaza Arena; proposal for venue change to Saitama Super Arena in late 2014 was confirmed in March 2015 by the IOC. "IOC supports Tokyo's plans to relocate Olympic venues". The Japan Times. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015. "Moving 2020 hoops to Saitama latest blow for game". The Japan Times. 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  23. ^ Originally to be held at Wakasu Olympic Marina; venue moved in June 2015. "東京五輪、26競技の会場決定 自転車・サッカー除き". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  24. ^ RGR (28 February 2015). "Change to Tokyo 2020 equestrian venue approved". inside.fei.org. FEI. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Olympic Venues". Tokyo2020.org. TOCOG. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  26. ^ Beall, Joel (20 March 2017). "2020 Olympic golf course changes policy, allows women full membership". Golf Digest. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  27. ^ a b Wilson, Stephen (10 December 2015). "IOC approves switch of cycling venues for Tokyo Olympics". Japan Today. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  28. ^ "横浜スタジアム会場案...東京五輪に野球など追加". Yomiuri Online. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  29. ^ "Fukushima Prefecture to Host Tokyo 2020 Baseball & Softball Matches, Showcasing the Power of Sport to Support Recovery". Tokyo2020. TOCOG. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Tokyo Olympics marathons moved 800km to Sapporo for cooler climate". The Guardian. PA Media. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach". Tokyo2020.org. TOCOG. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Olympic sport football". tokyo2020.jp. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  33. ^ "Statement on 6 August Olympic football medal matches". Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.