Tokyo 2020 Seeks Volunteers, Fukushima Meeting Possible

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 organizers will launch a recruitment drive for 80,000 volunteers in September.

Applicants must be aged 18 years or older as of April 1, 2020. The application window runs from September to December. Further details of requirements and conditions are set to be revealed in July.

Nine types of volunteer positions are open – in the areas of guidance, events support, mobility support, personal support, operational support, healthcare, technology, media, and ceremonies.

The Tokyo metropolitan government is hiring another 30,000 ‘city volunteers’ to work at transport hubs and tourist spots to help international visitors at Games-time.

"We want to make sure that they take their jobs seriously, and also that they have the desire to do it because we are looking for those volunteers to continue to work for a minimum of 10 days," Tokyo 2020 Toshiro Muto was quoted by the Japan Times Wednesday after an executive board meeting.

"We are not looking for people who can only do this for one or two days. We are looking for people who are emotionally and mentally prepared to do this."

Speaking about the competition venues for the Games, Muto vowed to improve the water quality in Tokyo Bay, the venue for marathon swimming and triathlon. E.coli concentrations in one area were found to be 21 times above accepted standards, according to an Associated Press report.

Muto said that four construction firms banned by the Tokyo metropolitan government for bid corruption in a transport project would likely play no part in any new Olympic work, AP reported. But he suggested they might be brought in to accelerate work to meet immovable Olympic construction deadlines.

The executive board also today discussed Olympic Villages.

A Tokyo 2020 spokesperson tells Around the Rings that there will be two satellite villages for sailing and cycling. Oiso Prince Hotel will be used for sailing; Laforet Resort Shuzenji for cycling (track and mountain bike).

"Both facilities will ensure the best possible conditions for the athletes during the Tokyo 2020 Games," he said.

Tokyo 2020 organizers are also considering staging this July’s executive board meeting in Fukushima, site of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

"It would be a great opportunity to show solidarity with the affected areas from the Great East Japan Earthquake," the spokesperson told ATR.

Reported by Mark Bisson

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.