(ATR) The International Paralympic Committee today approved the Tokyo 2020 road cycling venue and fixed dates for the Paris 2024 Games.
Meeting in PyeongChang on the eve of the Winter Paralympics, the IPC’s governing board signed off Fuji International Speedway as the venue for all road cycling events for Tokyo 2020. The decision means all 22 sport venues for the Games are now confirmed.
The board also agreed that the Paris 2024 Paralympics should take place Aug. 28 to Sept. 9, one week earlier than originally proposed.
This follows a push by the IOC, IPC and Paris 2024 to stage competitions in order to increase exposure to the Paralympics; the first half of the Games will now take place during the period of school holidays in France.
With less than 48 hours to go before the Winter Paralympics open in PyeongChang, the board expressed satisfaction with the stage set for the Games.
"Throughout the board meeting there was an air of excitement regarding the start of the Paralympic Winter Games," IPC president Andrew Parsons said in a statement.
"Final preparations are going very well and it looks like PyeongChang 2018 will be record-breaking in many areas. I’m also greatly encouraged by ticket sales which now have exceeded 275,000."
Commenting on the IPC's decisions today, Parsons said he was pleased the Tokyo 2020 venue masterplan was now finalized. "The change of date for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is hugely advantageous and will allow maximum exposure and awareness for the event," he added.
Tokyo Paralympic Road Cycling
The starting and finishing points will be at the Fuji International Speedway Circuit, near Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji. The world-class motor racing circuit, which is not far from the Tokyo metropolitan area, regularly hosts international motorsport events and is equipped with the latest technology and facilities.
Tokyo 2020 organizers said they hope that as well as wowing athletes and spectators during the events, the inclusion of such famous venues will help inspire the public to take up sporting activities after the Games.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said he believes it will serve as "a great stage for the athletes and provide an excellent spectator experience". The route of the road cycling course was a work in progress, he confirmed.
The Tokyo 2020 Games will utilize a total of 43 venues, including eight new permanent venues, 25 existing sites and 10 temporary venues. Forty-two of these 43 venues will be used for Olympic competitions and 21 for the Paralympics.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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