Tokyo Olympic sports pictograms unveiled

Mar 13, 2019 | News On Japan

Mar 13, 2019 (NHK) - With 500 days to go until the start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the organizing committee has unveiled 50 pictograms of the 33 sports being held.

Sprinter Shota Iizuka and karate expert Kiyou Shimizu joined elementary school students on Tuesday in a ceremony in Tokyo.

The tradition of using the symbols began at the 1964 Games in Tokyo.

The new designs are based on those used in 1964 with the aim of being simple and easy to understand.

Some of the original pictograms have been retained, such as for athletics and boxing. The designs for judo and sailing carry expressions of more lively athletic movements.

Karate will debut at the Tokyo Games. In this sport there are separate symbols for kumite or sparring and for kata or forms. The characteristics of each competition are depicted to make them easier to differentiate.

Officials say the pictograms will be used in venue designs, the website, tickets, guidebooks and official goods.

Designer Masaaki Hiromura said the team members have created designs based on photographs, but good poses didn't necessary transform into good pictograms. He said he is honored to have been involved in the difficult project.

The pictograms for the Paralympic Games will be disclosed on April 13, when its 500-day countdown begins.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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