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. Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retained the Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes.Multiple sources:
The 2020 Summer Paralympics followed two weeks later between 25 August and 5 September 2021.
Venues and infrastructure
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."
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. 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.
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. The original plans to build a retractable roof were also scrapped. 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. National Stadium was inaugurated on 21 December 2019 and is named Olympic Stadium during 2020 Olympic Games.
Of the 33 competition venues in Tokyo, 28 are within of the Olympic Village, with eleven new venues which were constructed. On 16 October 2019, the IOC announced that there were plans to re-locate the marathon and racewalking events to Sapporo for heat concerns. 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.
Heritage Zone 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 StatusJapan National Stadium(known as Olympic Stadium during the games)* Opening and closing ceremonies68,000Built for the gamesAthletics (track and field)Nippon Budokan††Judo14,471ExistingKarate Yoyogi National Gymnasium†Handball13,291Kokugikan ArenaBoxing11,098Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium† Table tennis10,000Tokyo International ForumWeightlifting5,012 *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 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 StatusKasai Canoe Slalom CentreCanoeing (slalom)8,000Built for the gamesOi Hockey StadiumField hockey15,000Built for the gamesTokyo Aquatics CentreAquatics (swimming, diving, artistic swimming)15,000Built for the gamesTokyo Tatsumi International Swimming CenterWater poloOriginally to be held at Water Polo Arena in Koto, Tokyo; venue moved in June 2015. 3,635ExistingYumenoshima ParkArchery7,000Built for the gamesAriake ArenaVolleyball12,000Built for the gamesAriake Urban Sports Park BMX racing, 6,600CompletedBMX freestyle5,000Skateboarding7,000Ariake Gymnastics CentreGymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, trampoline)10,000Built for the gamesAriake Tennis Park (Ariake Coliseum)Tennis20,000 = 10,000 center court; 5,000 court 1; 3,000 court 2; 2,000 match courts (8x250)Existing, renovatedOdaiba Marine ParkTriathlon5,000 seated, unlimited standing room along routeExisting with temporary standsAquatics (marathon swimming)Shiokaze ParkBeach volleyball12,000TemporaryCentral Breakwater and Sea Forest WaterwayEquestrian (eventing)20,000Existing with temporary infrastructureRowingCanoeing (sprint)Aomi Urban Sports Park3x3 basketball7,100TemporarySport climbing8,400
Outlying venues There are 16 venues for 16 sports situated farther than from the Olympic Village. Venue Events Capacity StatusCamp AsakaShooting3,200Existing, renovatedMusashino Forest Sport PlazaModern pentathlon (fencing)10,000Built for the gamesBadmintonBadminton originally to be held at Youth Plaza Arena; venue moved in June 2015. Musashinonomori Park, FuchūRoad cycling (start road races) TemporaryTokyo StadiumFootball (opening round matches)49,970Rugby sevens originally to be held at National Olympic Stadium; venue moved in June 2015. ExistingModern pentathlon (excluding fencing)Rugby sevensSaitama Super ArenaBasketball22,000Originally 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. EnoshimaSailing 10,000Originally to be held at Wakasu Olympic Marina; venue moved in June 2015. Existing with temporary standsMakuhari MesseFencing6,000Taekwondo8,000WrestlingTokyo Equestrian Park, SetagayaEquestrian (dressage, jumping)9,300Kasumigaseki Country ClubGolf30,000Izu Velodrome, ShizuokaTrack cycling5,000Existing, expanded, ShizuokaMountain biking11,500ExistingYokohama StadiumBaseball30,000ExistingSoftballFukushima Azuma Baseball StadiumBaseball (opening match)30,000Existing, renovatedSoftball (opening match) Fuji Speedway Road cycling(finish road races, time trial)22,000 Existing Odori Park Athletics (Marathon and Race walking)17,300 Existing , Chiba Surfing 6,000 Existing
Football venues
Venue Location Events Matches Capacity StatusInternational Stadium YokohamaYokohama Men's and Women's preliminaries and quarter-final, Women's semi-final, finals, Men's final 1270,000Existing Tokyo Stadium Tokyo Men's and Women's opening round4 49,000Saitama StadiumSaitamaMen's and Women's preliminaries and quarter-final, Men's semi-final and 3rd place play-off1162,000 Miyagi Stadium Sendai Men's and Women's preliminaries and quarter-final10 49,000 Kashima Soccer Stadium Kashima Men's and Women's preliminaries, quarter-final and semi-final, Women's 3rd place play-off10 40,728 Sapporo Dome Sapporo Men's and Women's preliminaries10 42,000
Non-competition venues
Venue EventsHotel Okura TokyoOlympic Family HotelHarumi FutoOlympic VillageTokyo Big SightInternational Broadcast Center (IBC)Media Press Center (MPC)
Notes
References