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The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, a new permanent venue to be used during the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, has been officially opened to the public this weekend.

With respectively 971 days and 1,003 days to go until the opening of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the delivery of this first new permanent Games venue is a significant step forward in Tokyo’s Olympic preparations.

Constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza will host badminton and fencing in modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games, and wheelchair basketball during the Paralympic Games.

The main arena boasts a seating capacity of over 10,000, and includes a swimming pool, a gym, a multiuse sports area and two fitness studios, all of which will be available for use by the general public. Solar panels on the roof and other state-of-the-art technology help reduce the facility’s carbon footprint.

The layout of the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza is based on the Tokyo 2020 Accessibility Guidelines, with the facility designed to be accessible to all, including the elderly, people with impairments, parents with infant strollers and those with guide dogs.

The main arena has space for wheelchairs, and the space is designed with enough height difference between the rows of seating to ensure that those in wheelchairs can see clearly, even if spectators in front of them stand up.

Saturday’s opening ceremony was attended by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, together with Olympians, Paralympians and people from the local community.

Commenting on the opening, Toshiro Muto, Director General of the Bureau of Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Preparation, stated “I am delighted that this first new permanent venue has been delivered and inaugurated in such an early phase of the Games life cycle.

“The Organising Committee’s activities have switched from the planning phase to the delivery phase and our eyes are now firmly on the opening date of the Games. Tokyo 2020 will fulfil its promise and deliver a safe and successful Games that will leave a lasting legacy and benefits for everyone."

The Tokyo 2020 Games will utilise a total of 40 venues – eight new permanent venues, 24 existing sites and eight temporary venues.

The schedule for completion of new venues is:

• Musashino Forest Sport Plaza 
• Olympic Stadium, completion: November 2019 
• Ariake Arena, completion: December 2019
• Seaside Park Hockey Stadium, completion: June 2019
• Sea Forest Waterway, completion: March 2019
• Canoe Slalom Course, completion: May 2019
• Dream Island Archery Field, completion: second half of 2019
• Olympic Aquatics Centre, completion: December 2019

Images: Wheelchair basketball at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza (top) and officials at the venue's opening (below). Courtesy at Tokyo 2020 Games Organising Committee.

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