Tokyo Government Reports Volunteer Statistics

(ATR) Tokyo government statistics show that Tokyo 2020 organizers will receive more than enough applicants to fill its quota of 80,000 volunteers.

Applications for Tokyo 2020 and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government volunteer programs are open from September 26 to December 5. The TMG has been regularly releasing statistics to track the number of applications received for each program.

Tokyo 2020 will accept 80,000 volunteers to help run the Olympic Games, while the TMG aims to recruit 20,000 volunteers to assist city operations during the Games. An additional 10,000 volunteers will be recruited from Rugby World Cup tourism volunteers, applicants from Tokyo universities, and applicants recommended by Tokyo municipalities.

So far the TMG says that has received 52,249 applications in the first month of the registration period. In total, 92,920 individuals have begun the registration process on Tokyo 2020’s website.

There has been less interest in volunteer work with the city. The TMG says that it has received 6,012 applications, well short of the goal of 20,000.

Around 60 percent of applicants have been women for both volunteer positions. The TMG said that 60 percent of applicants for the Olympic volunteer position have been under 30, while 50 percent of the TMG volunteer applicants have been under 40.

Olympic Film Commissioned

Japanese director Naomi Kawase will direct the official film of the Tokyo 2020, says the IOC.

Kawase won the best young director award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for her movie "Suzaku".

Her approach to the film will seek to "capture ‘time’" and "freeze moments into ‘eternity’" through the lens of documentary filmmaking, according to an IOC statement.

The first Olympic film was directed for the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. Kawase is the fifth woman to direct an Olympic film, which will be funded by the IOC and Tokyo 2020.

At a press conference Kawase said she does not have a title in mind for her film, and is approaching the project with complete openness. The film is expected to be released in 2021.

Kawase said that she will highlight both volunteers and the country’s resilience following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in the movie. Olympic organizers have sought to integrate the Fukushima region into the Games’ hosting plan, starting the torch relay in the prefecture and holding the opening games in the baseball and softball tournaments there.

"When it comes to the Tokyo Olympics, we cannot just say it will be speedy just because it’s a sports-related theme," Kawase said as reported by AP. "At this point I don’t have any idea at all.

"But as usual I think this is something that will suddenly come to me."

Metal Targets on Track

Tokyo 2020 says it expects to source enough metal to produce all medals at the Olympics through recycled materials.

Based on latest projections, the organization committee said in a statement that metal donated now through March 2019 will reach all targets for gold, silver, and bronze.

So far Tokyo 2020 has secured enough bronze needed to produce Olympic medals, but has collected only 54.5 percent of required gold and 43.9 percent of required silver.

Tokyo 2020 and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government have been collecting used electronics for the project.

"With the public's continued support, we are aiming to meet all of our metal collection targets within the next five months," Masa Takaya, Tokyo 2020 spokesperson said in a statement. "Tokyo 2020 is running numerous other sustainability projects, with one of our goals being that 99 percent of items and goods procured for the Games should be reused or recycled."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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