The Olympics have a special place in Japan's history as a catalyst for change.
The 1964 Tokyo Games had a transformational effect not just on the capital city but the country at large. The Games marked the country’s re-entry into the international community post World War II, as well as the beginning of its high-growth era with the unveiling of the Shinkansen – the bullet train.
Japan will use the 2020 Games to demonstrate its recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the meltdown at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and devastated the country. The country will also strive to live up to its reputation for global competitiveness by unveiling a number of firsts at Tokyo 2020:
New youth-friendly, high-octane sports! The nature of these new sports and events will modernise the programs and keep the Olympic & Paralympic movements relevant to younger generations.
Exemplifying Japan’s advanced technological prowess, facial recognition technology will be used for the first time to accurately identify roughly 300,000 athletes, officials and staff for entry to venues, verifying their identity in less than a third of a second – speeding up the process and bolstering security.
With sustainability one of its main priorities – “be better together – for the planet and the people” - the Organising Committee has been collecting old mobile phones, microwaves and other electronic goods to break down and use in the manufacture of 5000 gold, silver and bronze medals. This initiative is a nod to Japan's recycling culture, which has spawned one of the most complicated but thorough waste collection services in the world.
It will also be the first time renewable energy is used to provide 100 per cent of the power for Games venues. The Olympic Village will be powered by hydrogen, and hydrogen fuel-cell cars will ferry athletes and officials between venues.
Can’t make it to the Games, no worries! Japanese broadcaster NHK is planning to go super high-tech for its coverage– all the action will be offered in Super 8K which is 16 times sharper than high definition televisions. Microphones will be able to zoom in on sound anywhere within an event venue, creating an ultra-realistic viewing experience which means watching the Games at home will be almost as good as in person.
Fireworks and the Olympics go hand in hand, but Tokyo are planning to take it to the next level and produce shooting stars at the opening ceremony! In another first, mini-satellites will be launched into space carrying hundreds of pellets that burn up in different colours when they fall through the atmosphere, creating the illusion of shooting stars.
From robotic helpers to driverless taxis and rumours that a flying car will be used to light the Olympic flame! There’s no doubt that Tokyo 2020 is set to be the most high tech and innovative Olympics and Paralympics yet!
