01 Dec 2017 First new permanent venue of the Tokyo 2020 Games opens to the public BYKim Megson
The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza will host badminton, modern pentathlon fencing and wheelchair basketball and has a seating capacity of more than 10,000 photo: Tokyo 2020
The first permanent venue built for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo has opened to the public.
The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, located close to Kengo Kuma’s forthcoming national Stadium, will host badminton, modern pentathlon fencing and wheelchair basketball and has a seating capacity of more than 10,000.
Constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the arena includes a swimming pool, gym, multi-use sports area and two fitness studios for use by the public.
The interior layout is designed to be accessible to all users and the height difference between rows of seating means that spectators in wheelchairs will be able to see clearly even if those in front of them stand up.
An opening ceremony for the venue was attended by Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, together with Olympians, Paralympians and members of the local community.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said: “I'm delighted that this first new permanent venue has been delivered and inaugurated in such an early phase of the Games’ life cycle.
"The organising committee's activities have switched from the planning phase to the delivery phase and our eyes are now firmly on the opening date of the Games.
"Tokyo 2020 will fulfil its promise and deliver a safe and successful Games that will leave a lasting legacy and benefits for everyone.”
Events are scheduled to take place across 40 venues, including eight new permanent facilities, eight temporary ones and 24 existing sites.
Organisers will be relieved that the first venue has been completed on schedule, after a difficult two years that have seen a plagiarism row erupt over the logo initially designed for the Games, criticism of the burgeoning cost of hosting, and controversy over the National Stadium, which was to be created by Zaha Hadid Architects until the Japanese government stripped the studio of the project and later appointed Kuma.
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