NEW DELHI: Delayed by more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics are finally all set to commence from July 23.
Despite massive public opposition to the Games, Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, is in all readiness to host the biggest sports carnival on the planet.
And to organize a spectacle on such a large scale, Japan has left no stone unturned.
A total of 42 venues will be playing host to the best athletes from around the world.
Divided into two main areas — the Tokyo Bay Zone and the Heritage Zone — the venues are a culmination of previously existing, temporary and built from scratch sites.
And yes, they do come in all shapes and sizes.
We will be bringing you a thorough guide to all the Tokyo Olympic venues.
In part one of our series, we take a look at 10 of these venues, which will host multiple events: Olympic StadiumBuilt on the same premises as the main stadium of Tokyo’s last Olympic Games in 1964, the new Olympic Stadium officially opened in December 2019 and the five-floor facility will be the centre-stage of the 2021 Olympic carnival.
The 68,000-seater multi-purpose stadium will be hosting all the athletics and football events during the 2021 Games.
The mega stadium will also serve as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.
(Getty Images)Yoyogi National StadiumFamous for its suspension roof design, the 10,200-seater Yoyogi National Stadium is an indoor arena located at Yoyogi Park in Shibuya.
The stadium has a huge international reputation and is one of the most beloved pieces of architecture in the city of Tokyo.
The arena, during the 1964 Games, staged the aquatics and basketball competitions.
And this time around, the venue has been given the responsibility to host the handball event.
(Getty Images)Nippon BudokanThe spiritual home of Japanese martial arts – Nippon Budokan, holds a special place in the hearts of its fans.
‘Budokan’ which translates to ‘martial arts hall’ — the indoor arena, located in Chiyoda, is a heritage site and has hosted martial arts contests for quite a while now.
The discipline of judo which made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 1964 Games was held at this same venue.
This time too, the 11,000-capacity will stage the judo and karate events during the Olympics.
(AP photo)International Stadium YokohamaThe home stadium of J1 League team Yokohama F.
Marinos, the International Stadium Yokohama is the biggest football stadium in the country with a seating capacity for over 72,000 spectators.
The venue will host football matches during the Olympics.
Located in Yokohama City, the multi-purpose sports stadium was opened in 1998 and also hosted the first-round games and the final between Germany and Brazil during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
(Getty Images)Kasumigaseki Country ClubWith a history spanning over 80 years, the 25,000-capacity Kasumigaseki Country Club will be staging golf events during the Olympics.
Located in Kawagoe City, the club opened in 1929 and was the first golf course in Saitama.
The Kasumigaseki Country Club has hosted a number of major professional and amateur tournaments in the past.
(AP photo)Asaka Shooting RangeHistory is repeating itself at the Asaka Shooting Range as well, as the venue is once again set to host the shooting competitions, similar to what it did during the 1964 Games.
And, this time in an attempt to improve the venue, a temporary Olympic-standard facility has been added at the site.
The Olympics organizers also held a 5-day shooting test event at the range in May, which saw more than 150 athletes taking part across various disciplines.
(Getty Images)Sapporo Odori ParkLocated in the centre of Sapporo City, the Sapporo Odori Park will be the designated venue for the marathon and race walking events.
‘Odori Park’ which means ‘large street’ is a 20km loop course right in the middle of the city and if allowed, will be attracting a good crowd, especially for the marathon, which continues to be a popular sporting event in the country.
The Park was a late entry among the hosting venues and was only added in December 2019.
(Getty Images)Oi Hockey StadiumConstructed in the Oi Pier Ocean Park, the 15,000-seater Oi Hockey Stadium will be the main venue for high-profile contests at the Olympics.
Along with the defending champions Argentina, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Netherlands and India will be the top medal contenders and all the teams will be seen in action at this magnificent newly constructed stadium near Tokyo Bay.
(Credit: Olympics)Ariake Tennis ParkOne of the most stunning tennis facilities in the country, the Ariake Tennis Park has fully equipped indoor and outdoor courts with a foldable roof.
The 19,900-capacity arena which is used as the center court for the Japan Open and the Pan Pacific Open will be the main venue for the tennis events during the Games.
(Getty Images)Tokyo StadiumThe first public facility where the naming right was introduced in Japan, the Tokyo Stadium also known as the Ajinomoto Stadium will be used as a multi-purpose venue during the upcoming Games.
The 48,000-seater stadium will be hosting football, modern pentathlon and rugby sevens matches during the Olympics.