IOC Executive Board approves Tokyo 2020 football venues
During its first day of meetings, the IOC Executive Board (EB) approved seven venues for the football competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Football matches are now due to be contested in the Sapporo Dome, Miyagi Stadium, Ibaraki Kashima Stadium, Saitama Stadium, Tokyo Stadium and the International Stadium Yokohama, as well as the main Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.
The agreement on these locations signals the confirmation of venues for all sports at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The Tokyo 2020 Games will use a total of 43 venues, including 25 existing, ten temporary and eight new permanent venues.
In keeping with Olympic Agenda 2020, the Tokyo Organising Committee worked with stakeholders, including the IOC and International Federations, to revise its venue plan. As a result, three fewer permanent venues will be constructed, ensuring the Games will create a sustainable legacy for future generations.
With various sporting events being hosted in the Ibaraki, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, which were among the areas worst affected by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, Tokyo 2020 aims to bring the excitement of the Olympics Games to more people across the country.
Tokyo 2020 also presented its Accommodation Allocation Plan, and updated the Executive Board on the progress made with its engagement activities, such as the unveiling of the Olympic and Paralympic mascots and the announcement of its concept for the Olympic Torch Relay, which features "Hope Lights Our Way" as its slogan. This ambitious concept will bring the Japanese people together around messages of support, acceptance and encouragement of one another.
With just over two years to go, Tokyo 2020 also reported that its venues are progressing according to schedule, and that all are expected to be completed well ahead of the Games.