The organising committee for this summer’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games has detailed plans to introduce 5G-focused fan experience initiatives at three competition venues.
Tokyo 2020 will work with Intel, NTT and NTT DOCOMO to showcase innovative sports viewing experiences at sailing, swimming and golf venues. The experiences will leverage the high speeds and capacity offered by 5G and will also incorporate an augmented reality experience.
The sailing venue at Enoshima Yacht Harbour will be fitted with 5G technology from July 25 to August 4. Sailing spectators at the Olympics have traditionally required binoculars to view the action but Tokyo 2020 coverage will be shown on a 50-metre screen floating on the water of the harbour. The screen will feature 12K resolution video and a similar broadcast will be provided at the Big Sight in Tokyo, the location of the Games’ main press centre.
Specific seats at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre will also offer 5G and AR experiences at swimming events during the Games. Selected fans will be provided with wearable devices which will display detailed race information during events, with 5G technology to be used to transmit data swiftly to the devices.
The Kasumigaseki Country Club will also feature multiple locations which will allow spectators to individually select and watch live videos of the action. Videos will be shown on rental devices provided by organisers.
Tokyo 2020 has also inaugurated the first-ever Olympic Agora today (Thursday). The Agora will serve as a cultural hub during Tokyo 2020 and feature a special exhibition, artistic installations and digital activations.
The Agora is located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo and will be on view until August 15, a week after the Olympics have finished. The project has been inspired by the public meeting places, or “agoras”, of Ancient Greece, where people gathered to eat, drink, sing, trade and share ideas.
The Agora will feature outdoor installations from world-renowned artists, an exhibition of artworks by athletes, a medal display and other artefacts from the Olympic Museum, and a photographic exhibition by leading Japanese art photographer Rinko Kawauchi. Exhibitions will be in compliance with national COVID-19 restrictions.
A sculpture by French artist Xavier Velihan was also unveiled today. The sculpture includes five life-sized human figures of various ages, genders and nationalities, with Velihan hoping the sculpture will serve as an “ambassador” for the international fans unable to attend the Games.
The Tokyo Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8, with the Paralympics to follow from August 24 to September 5.
Image: Tokyo 2020
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