Global Forum for Sports and Environment
IOC Evaluation Commission Explore Tokyo Sites
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 IOC Evaluation Commission listen to a presentation from Aki Taguchi, Paralympic shooter Among numerous other highlights, Tokyo 2016 showcased just one of the ways it will fulfill its renewable energy promise, with a ‘power floor’ installed at the Tokyo International Forum venue where simply walking on it generates usable energy. 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. Source: Tokyo 2016 LINK : |
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.