First permanent venue for Tokyo 2020 Olympics opens

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Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike officially opened the city's first permanent Olympic venue on Saturday ahead of the 2020 summer games during a ceremony attended by hundreds.

The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza which is located in the outskirts of Tokyo will host modern pentathlon fencing and badminton competitions during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and wheelchair basketball contest during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The construction of the seven other new venues is to be completed between March and December 2019 according to officials. Also to be used during the games are 23 existing venues and eight temporary ones.

Main arena of Musashino Forest Sport Plaza in Chofu, Tokyo. /VCG Photo

The Venue Plan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 consists predominantly of two thematic and operational zones: The "Heritage Zone" which houses several iconic venues used at the Tokyo 1964 Games and further sustains its enduring legacy, and the "Tokyo Bay Zone" which serves as a model for innovative urban development and symbolizes the exciting future of the city.

These two zones expand across the city to form an "infinity" symbol with the Athletes' Village positioned at the point where the two zones intersect – at the physical and spiritual heart of the Games.

The "infinity" symbol embodies the boundless passion, commitment and inspiration of the world's elite athletes, the limitless potential of future generations, and the lasting legacy that will be passed on to the people of Tokyo, Japan and the world.

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