17 April 2009 – Some of Japan’s finest sports heroes, smiling children and cutting-edge technologies today helped Tokyo 2016 guide the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission on a tour of Tokyo’s existing and proposed Olympic and Paralympic venues, showcasing the most compact, sustainable and efficient Games concept ever. In a special moment at the Kasumigaoka National Stadium, the 1964 Olympic flame was re-enacted in the cauldron where it burnt last millennium, raising hopes for its future return in 2016.

With Tokyo proposing an ultra-convenient Games for athletes and spectators alike that sees 97% of venues within an 8km radius of the Olympic Stadium, the IOC Evaluation Commission were able to visit 28 out of 34 Olympic and Paralympic venues in just a single day. The tour ran completely on schedule without the assistance of police outriders or other traffic clearing measures. Tokyo 2016’s compact plan will see 70% of athletes reach their competition venue in less than ten minutes via secluded and serene surroundings.

At Sea Forest – the island in Tokyo Bay reclaimed from the sea – the IOC’s 13-member expert delegation became part of the future of Tokyo, joining local children to plant saplings that will grow to 3m high inside three years, as part of a transformation programme that will see 1,000 hectares of new green spaces introduced to Tokyo by 2016. At several parts of the route children and students waving Tokyo 2016 ‘clappers’ turned out to enthusiastically cheer the visitors as they passed.

The delegation started their tour in Tokyo Bay, seeing first-hand where a new 100,000 seat Olympic Stadium will be developed by 2016 and how the waterfront will be transformed as part of a major legacy from the Games. The iconic centrepiece of the Tokyo 2016 Games will be built at the very heart of the city overlooking Tokyo Bay and surrounded by greenery. The guests were given high-tech goggles to be transported into athlete’s shoes to explore a full Olympic Stadium in 2016 through the power of virtual reality.

Tokyo Governor, Shintaro Ishihara, personally guided the IOC Evaluation Commission, alongside IOC Member and IOC Vice President, Chiharu Igaya; IOC Member, Shunichiro Okano; Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016, Dr. Ichiro Kono; President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Tsunezaku Takeda; Chair of the Tokyo 2016 Athletes’ Commission and double Olympic medallist, Mikako Kotani; and Vice Chair of the Tokyo 2016 Athletes’ Commission and Olympic champion, Yuko Arakida.

Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016, said:
“We’ve been waiting for a long time to show the IOC Evaluation Commission the stage for the Games at the heart of city life. Simply put, that stage is Tokyo, because our ultra-compact Games plan makes best use of our city’s iconic assets to offer the ultimate environment for athletes and spectators alike.

“We have athletes at the front of everything we do and I’m proud that some of Japan’s finest Olympians and Paralympians played key roles with the IOC experts today. Just take our Olympic and Paralympic Village – what could be better for athletes than to be surrounded by water and greenery, in spacious and high-tech accommodation just a short walk or drive from competition venues?

“Everything has run smoothly as normal and I hope our esteemed guests enjoyed the sports they saw, young people they met and the re-enactment of the 1964 Olympic flame burning momentarily in Tokyo as a beacon of hope for the future, not just a reminder of the past.”

At Tokyo Big Sight – the exhibition centre that welcomes 100,000 visitors daily for international and national events and will host Olympic Wrestling, Fencing and Taekwondo, and Paralympic Powerlifting, Boccia and Wheelchair Fencing in 2016 – the delegation sampled the ‘ubiquitous technology’ that will guide and inform the Olympic and Paralympic Family and spectators at Tokyo 2016. They were each given handheld personal devices that led them to competition venues and streamed a whole range of useful information – from sports results to nearby restaurants and amenities.

Later at Kasumigaoka National Stadium – which will host the start of the Olympic Marathon and Football competition – Tokyo 2016 unveiled its official ‘Tokyo 2016 Bid Support Runner’, Naoko Takahashi, who won women’s marathon gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. After a strong day one showing from supporters at all levels of Japanese society on Thursday, Tokyo 2016 further demonstrated its major backing from elite athletes, with twenty-two Olympians and Paralympians joining other sports stars to present or accompany the IOC experts as part of their tour.

Among numerous other highlights, Tokyo 2016 showcased just one of the ways it will fulfil its renewable energy promise, with a ‘power floor’ installed at the Tokyo International Forum venue where simply walking on it generates usable energy. The tour concluded at The Yoyogi National Stadium, with thousands of spectators greeting the IOC Evaluation Commission for the International Skating Union World Team Trophy 2009 in Figure Skating and a special demonstration in their honour.

Tokyo 2016’s plan is a model of sustainability, with 23 of 34 Tokyo 2016 venues already in existence, including a strong legacy from the 1964 Games. Out of the 11 venues to be built, five are permanent and six are temporary, ensuring a fantastic sporting legacy for the 21st Century and no white elephants.

The Games will be staged in two interlocking zones: the Tokyo Bay Zone and the Heritage Zone – all within an 8km radius. The Tokyo Bay Zone will contain 20 of the 34 competition venues and symbolises Tokyo’s new approach to sustainable urban development. The Heritage Zone is at the historic core of the city, containing much of the rich legacy of the 1964 Games and incredible assets from the 540,529 square metres Yoyogi Park to the iconic Imperial Palace.

Tokyo 2016 has also paid close attention to making Tokyo an ideal place to train. Almost all training venues for the 2016 Games will be within 30 minutes of the Olympic Village, enabling athletes to maintain their best condition. World-class training venues are also available throughout Japan. For the 2008 Games, more than 30 countries chose Japan for their pre-Games training camps, citing its excellent facilities and environment.

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For further information, please contact:

Masa Takaya (Mr), Manager, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, masanori.takaya@tokyo2016.or.jp