Tokyo 2020 organisers have moved to clarify that test events for the Olympic Games will not be affected by the recently announced delays in venue construction.
Last week, to mark two years until the Games’ opening ceremony, Tokyo 2020 released a progress update on venues for the multi-sport event.
All venues remain on track, although the Sea Forest Waterway and the Olympic Aquatics Centre have been hit by slight delays. Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya said last week that the delays may lead to the test schedule being modified but he has now insisted that this will not be the case.
“A recent media report is causing confusion about Tokyo 2020′s test event schedule,” Takaya told the Associated Press news agency.
“Despite the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s announcement last month that construction of the Olympic Aquatics Centre and the Sea Forest Waterway will be delayed by two months, both the TMG and Tokyo 2020 can confirm that the construction schedule will have no impact on Games preparations or running test events.”
The first test events are scheduled for the middle of next year. The Sea Forest Waterway, which will host rowing and canoeing events, is due to be ready by May 2019. The Aquatics Centre is due to be completed by February 2020. Both venues have been hit by two-month delays.
The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza is so far the only Tokyo 2020 venue to have been completed. The Plaza will host events such as badminton, fencing and wheelchair basketball. The next venue scheduled to be completed is the Canoe Slalom Course, which is due to open next May.
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