Air Traffic Causes Tokyo 2020 Triathlon Venue Move

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 officials say triathlon is likely headed for Yokohama.

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SOCHI, RUSSIA - MARCH 08:  Injured Tyler Walker of United States is flown off the mountain on a medical helicopter after crashing in the Men's Downhill Sitting on March 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.  (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA - MARCH 08: Injured Tyler Walker of United States is flown off the mountain on a medical helicopter after crashing in the Men's Downhill Sitting on March 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

(ATR) Rather than risk interfering with flight plans from Tokyo’s International Airport, Tokyo 2020 event organizers suggest relocating the triathlon event at the 2020 Games to Yokohama.

Tokyo 2020 is going to "watch over the status [to see] how it goes," Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe said at a Friday press conference.

This is the latest in a series of venue changes proposed by the organizing committee for the 2020 Summer Games.

Since winning the bid for the Games in 2013, Tokyo has actively performed a review of their venue locations proposed in the original bid to potentially cut costs.

During the review process, two venue locations were found to be in direct conflict with flight paths from Haneda Airport, Tokyo’s international hub: sailing and triathlon.The issue lies within providing coverage of the events using Olympic Broadcast Service helicopters and cameras that would be flying in the airport’s restricted air space.

Although members of the IOC and event organizers originally wanted to keep the triathlon event within the city, Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori suggested moving the venue to avoid these conflicts.

Written by Kenta HandaandKevin Nutley

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