(ATR) Games organizers have scrapped plans for a temporary Olympic Gymnastic Centre, opting to build something more permanent to "maximize the legacy".
The decision came at Thursday’s meeting of the Tokyo 2020 executive board.
In a statement sent to Around the Rings, spokeswoman Hikariko Ono said the organizing committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government took the move following a review of plans for the gymnastic centre to be a temporary venue used only for the 2020 Games.
"In order to maximise the legacy, it has been decided that this venue’s lifespan will be extended by an additional 10-year period after the 2020 Games and will become a state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centre, as required by the city of Tokyo," she said.
Ono said the Olympic Gymnastic Centre will be located in the Tokyo bay area, with a total site area of 100,000 m2 and seating capacity for 12,000 spectators. It will also be used for the Boccia competition of the 2020 Paralympics.
"The tender for construction will be launched this summer and a construction company will be selected in autumn 2016. Construction of the venue will be completed by 2019. The emphasis on wood as a construction material ensures the venue’s sustainability and distinctive Japanese style," she said.
The estimated costof the venue is not yet available.
A Tokyo 2020 spokesman told ATR that the organising committee and metropolitan government "will now work on each organization's financial contribution for this venue".
After today's board meeting, there was no update on development of the Olympic stadium or on the new Tokyo 2020 logo scheduled to be unveiled within the next few weeks.
However, plans for the "Tokyo 2020 Japan House," the national hospitality centre for the Rio 2016 Olympics, were released Thursday.
A partnership between Tokyo 2020, city authorities and the Japanese Olympic and Paralympic committees, it will "showcase the best in Japanese culture and sport, and provide a glimpse of how the Tokyo 2020 Games will look and feel".
The Tokyo 2020 Japan House will be located in Cidade das Artes, a cultural complex inaugurated in 2013 in the Barra Zone, main hub of the 2016 Olympics.
Japan’s Olympic officials said the hospitality venue will welcome athletes, members of the Olympic Family, media and other visitors during Games-time. It will also host media events of the organising committee and the Japanese national Olympic and Paralympic teams.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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