The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has released two reports and a case study exploring what hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games has done for the city and how those achievements are being integrated into the future development of the city and country.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in the summer of 2021. Released July 31st, 2021, “Building the Legacy – Beyond 2020” outlines what Tokyo intended to achieve in holding the Games. “Tokyo 2020-Memories Leading to the Future,” which was published in December 2021, details what the city achieved and what the Games have given to the city and how those achievements will be integrated into Tokyo’s and the country’s future development. A complementary case study issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee takes a deep dive into the information.
Both reports and the case study look at the city’s efforts and achievements in nine categories: Safety and Security, Urban Development, Sports and Health, Participation and Cooperation (volunteers/citizens), Culture and Tourism, Education and Diversity, Environment and Sustainability, Prosperity and Technology, and Disaster Recovery.
The analysis of the city’s safety and security initiatives is particularly notable considering the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. To deliver safe, secure Games, the city implemented infection prevention measures (quarantine, visitor restrictions, screening, cleaning, masks, etc.) and was able to keep COVID-19 in check. In addition, for the first time at an Olympic Games, face recognition technology was used to identify all stakeholders thus deterring crimes and terrorism. Leading-edge technology was also used to block approximately 450 million cyber-attacks.
The reports also look at Tokyo’s development of accessible venues, improvements to its transportation infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, how the Games impacted the Japanese people (greater awareness and participation in sports, etc.), and their contributions to the country’s international image.