IOC Executive Board approves Tokyo 2020 Urban Sport venues

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has confirmed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has approved the venues for skateboarding and sport climbing, as well as for the two newly-added disciplines, basketball 3×3 and BMX freestyle.

With these additions to the sports programme for Tokyo 2020, which will be staged in an urban setting, it is hoped the Tokyo 2020 Games will inspire new generations and become a blueprint for future Olympic Games.

The Aomi Urban Sports Venue will host basketball 3×3 and sport climbing. This temporary venue will be set up in the Tokyo Bay Zone, conveniently located close to the Olympic Village.

The Olympic BMX Course will now host BMX freestyle and skateboarding in addition to BMX racing. Also located in the Tokyo Bay Zone, the venue will be constructed in the northern part of Tokyo’s Ariake district, an iconic waterfront area of the Japanese capital.

Tokyo 2020 CEO, Toshiro Muto, commented:

The newly-added urban sports such as BMX freestyle and basketball 3×3 are very popular among younger generations and will help us to connect with new fans.

 

We are confident that the Ariake and Aomi areas will become symbolic locations for the Tokyo 2020 Games that engage youth from around the world. Now that the venues are fixed, we will work in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to make these areas one of the greatest festival districts in Olympic and Paralympic history.

 

We will also continue our preparations in cooperation with all the relevant parties in order to deliver a Games where athletes can perform at their best.

The proximity of the two venues to each other will help create a youth-focused urban atmosphere in the area, increasing the opportunity for engagement with fans and delivering a unique Tokyo 2020 experience.

Together, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will utilise a total of 40 venues, including 8 new permanent venues, 24 existing sites and 8 temporary venues, with 39 of these venues utilised for the Olympic Games, while 20 of them will be used for the Paralympic Games.

With 60 per cent of the venues utilising existing infrastructure, Tokyo 2020 has embraced one of the Olympic Agenda 2020’s key aims – creating a sustainable legacy for future generations.

NB: This represents a revision of Tokyo 2020’s original proposal in December 2016 to use Aomi Urban Sports Venue for skateboarding events, following a thorough review by Tokyo 2020, the IOC, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the relevant international federations.

Images, courtesy: Tokyo 2020

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