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Not Madrid nor Istambul. It wasn´t to be. Tokyo will organise Olympic Games for a second time after the ones in 1964. This time around it will be a much more modern and even futuristic event that will most likely require a higher budget. The Japanese Government will invest over $83 million to transform the city and build an olympic village that meets the IOC´s expectations in just seven years.
The 2020 Olympic Games will take place from the 24th of July to the 9th of August and the Paralympics from the 25th of August to the 6th of September. Tokyo has a population of over 13 million people, a budget of over $83 million and everything to do. They´ve already built 43% of the Olympic Village that will be reduced to a radius of 5 miles. 28 out of the 31 venues will be located inside this radius. None of them will be over 30 minutes away from each other.
Photo: Kamemaru2000
Although the Japanese still have to build almost everything, Japan´s economic fluidity will not be an impediment. Among other things, they still have to build a velodrome, a colosseum with badminton and basketball courts on the island of Ariake, a volleyball stadium with capacity for 15,000, various hockey pitches with capacity for 10,000 in Yashio or the cycling track that will be built close to the 1964 Olympic Stadium, which will be remodeled and modernised.
Among sporting novelties, wrestling is back. With 95 votes in favour, this modality imposed itself over baseball and squash. However, wrestling is still a sport that has been present in Olympic Games since its first edition back in 1896.
The residential area where the 17,000 athletes will be housed will be located on the island of Harumi and they want it to be futuristic and with plenty of green areas to train. All in all, more than 100 acres of space. Oh, and you´ll also be able to visit the Olympic Stadium before the Games because the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be staged there.
All organising countries are different and special: Munich ´72, Montréal ´76, Moscow ´80, Los Angeles ´84, Seoul ´88, Barcelona ´92, Atlanta ´96, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 or London 2012; each had a different tone with spectacular opening ceremonies and all-time great medallists. Since the first modern era Olympic Games (Athens 1896), the Games take place every four years. It has always been this way except for the years that coincided with the First and Second World Wars.
One of the handicaps when being chosen by the IOC to organise the Games was the risk of nuclear contamination coming from Fukushima after the nuclear disaster that occurred there. Regardless of that, the Japanese now have a very important task in front of them to become the best host when the time comes. It´s a great responsibility because, at the same time, it could bring them huge economic and sporting benefits. It´s their second time to shine.
