News On Japan
Society

Athletes' village features accessibility, scenic views

Jan 10, 2020 | News On Japan

Jan 10, 2020 (Japan Times) - Details of the waterfront athletes’ village for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were revealed Thursday, with organizers emphasizing its accessibility and ease of use for para-athletes.

Located near the center of scheduled events inside the capital, the 44-hectare village features three sides offering scenic views of the sea. A transport mall at the center of the village will provide buses to and from the venues.

“It’s distinct for not being in the suburbs but being in the middle of the city, close to Odaiba, Haneda, Shinagawa and Ginza,” said village general manager Takashi Kitajima. “Athletes will be able to bask in a sense of spacious calm as they take in the views on offer.”

Some 21 buildings, which are between 14 and 18 stories tall, will accommodate 18,000 beds for athletes and staff during the Olympics, and 8,000 during the Paralympics. A total of 3,800 condominiums can hold up to eight people, with each room having up to two beds.

The bed frames are made of sturdy recycled cardboard, in line with organizers’ efforts to host an environmentally friendly and sustainable games.

Air conditioners used in the village will be donated after the games to areas hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami that devastated Tohoku. The village’s residential buildings are planned to be renovated and converted to apartments after the games.

The two-story main dining hall will remain open 24 hours a day since there are no cooking facilities in the condominiums.

Athletes can also access a complex inside the premises housing a clinic, gym and casual dining.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Heavy Rain Triggers Flood Warnings in Tokyo

Heavy rain continued across wide areas of Japan on September 9 after downpours began the previous day, prompting Level 4 flood danger warnings along several rivers in Tokyo and, at one point, a Level 5 emergency safety alert in Nagoya, while forecasters warned that another round of intense rain could hit the Kanto region during the afternoon and evening.

Nagoya Streets Flood as Linear Rainbands Hit Aichi and Gifu

Torrential rain caused widespread flooding across central Japan on September 8, inundating roads in central Nagoya and other cities as linear rainbands formed over Aichi and Gifu prefectures and authorities warned that similar conditions could develop in the Kanto region through September 9.

Tickets for Asian Games Selling Fast

Ticket sales for the Asian Games are gathering pace with less than two weeks until the competition begins, with more than 60% of tickets sold for the opening ceremony and 31 sports as of September 7, although organizers say seats remain readily available for events including soccer and baseball.

Gasoline Can and Knives Found After Deadly Gifu Cake Shop Blaze

Police investigating a fire that killed three people at a cake shop in Motosu, Gifu Prefecture, have found a gasoline container and multiple knives in the burned-out building and are examining whether a 70-year-old company executive who died after the incident brought the fuel to the scene.

Japanese Teens Spend Least Time on Social Media Among 24 Countries

Japanese 15-year-olds spend an average of 2.3 hours browsing social media during their weekday free time, the shortest amount among 24 countries surveyed, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         
MORE Society NEWS

Kyoto Employee Busted Stealing Used Sanitary Products From Women's Restroom

A 62-year-old Kyoto Prefectural Government employee has been suspended for three months after repeatedly entering a women's restroom at his workplace and taking used sanitary products, with the employee subsequently resigning voluntarily.

Tokyo Prosecutors Seek 200,000 Yen Fine for Dewi Sukarno Over Assault Charges

Prosecutors have sought a fine of 200,000 yen for entertainer Dewi Sukarno, widely known in Japan as Dewi Fujin, who is charged with two counts of assault against former members of her agency staff, arguing that the 86-year-old has not shown sufficient reflection on her actions.

Man Stabbed in Tokyo After Dispute Over Unpaid Rent

A man in his 40s who went to collect overdue rent at an apartment in Nishitokyo, Tokyo, was repeatedly stabbed on September 7, with police arresting a 66-year-old resident who was three months behind on rent and was scheduled to vacate the property that day.

Gasoline Can and Knives Found After Deadly Gifu Cake Shop Blaze

Police investigating a fire that killed three people at a cake shop in Motosu, Gifu Prefecture, have found a gasoline container and multiple knives in the burned-out building and are examining whether a 70-year-old company executive who died after the incident brought the fuel to the scene.

Man Arrested Over Six Suspicious Fires in Tokyo

A 58-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a home in Tokyo's Adachi Ward on September 4, injuring an 81-year-old woman, as police investigate whether he was involved in six suspicious fires reported in the area over about two weeks.

Emperor Naruhito Harvests Rice in Annual Imperial Palace Tradition

Emperor Naruhito carried out the annual rice harvest at a paddy field within the Imperial Palace on September 8, cutting two varieties of rice that will be used in ceremonies including the Niinamesai harvest festival.

Police Detain 39 Toyoko Kids, 40% Report Overdose Experience

Tokyo police detained 39 minors during a two-day nighttime operation around the "Toyoko" area of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, with 17 of them, or roughly 40%, found to have previously overdosed on medication.

Woman Dies After Car Flooded in Underpass

A woman in her 60s died after her car was submerged in a flooded underpass in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, as record rainfall caused widespread flooding, landslides and transport disruption across Kanto and surrounding areas on September 7, with authorities warning that further rain was expected during the evening commute.