(ATR) Nearly 5,000 people gathered in Tokyo on Monday to celebrate another milestone on the path towards the 2020 Summer Olympics, the first in Japan since the Tokyo 1964 Games.
Organizers of the Games used the three-year milestone as an opportunity to increase engagement with the Japanese and international public. Concerts, races and other events were spread throughout the city all aimed at activating the excitement in people for the Olympics.
The celebration was also an opportunity to launch the theme song for the 2020 Games – a reprisal of Olympic history from Tokyo 1964 – Tokyo Gorin Ondo. The theme song from Tokyo 1964 has been updated with new lyrics to include the Paralympians, a new arrangement and new dance moves.
"The common theme of these engagement initiatives this summer is 'Happy & Peace’," Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said in a statement. "Through this, we are expressing the wish that many people, old and young, men and women, will dance and feel happy when the Tokyo Gorin Ondo 2020 song is played.
"We hope that people around the world can thus have a glimpse of Japanese culture," he said.
The official version of the song will be performed by Sayuri Ishikawa, Yuzo Kayama and Pistol Takehara.
As Mori and the Organizing Committee eye the finish line over the horizon, they looked back at the road that led them to this moment. That path was not always smooth given debates and changes to the National Stadium design, a logo plagiarism controversy and several rounds of budget cuts.
"Although there have been some bumps along the way, many of the challenges have been overcome," Mori said. "Overall preparation is well underway, and we have also successfully reached an agreement with related parties on general costs and role sharing."
Despite the progress made, Mori did acknowledge the large amount of work remaining for the city to be ready for the Games.
"The problems with Loop Road No. 2 have been lingering," Mori said in his opening remarks, highlighting a specific road that will connect the Olympic Village with the center of the city.
"We need to team up with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and proceed as quickly as possible."
With three years left, Mori says the Organizing Committee is shifting its sights to more "intangibles", namely the Tokyo 2020 mascot selection, torch relay planning and Opening and Closing Ceremony production.
"Today, as we enter the next stage of preparations, we are thrilled at the prospect of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we remain committed to working hard so that in three years time we will be able to welcome our guests from around the world and deliver a most exciting summer festival."
The 2020 Games are set to begin on July 24. Olympians will compete through Aug. 9 while Paralympians will compete between Aug. 25 and Sep. 6.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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