Organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics which has since been postponed to next year are set to reopen more of the venues billed to host events in the world’s biggest sports fiesta. Agency report monitored in Lagos disclosed that the step is being taken despite the second wave of Covid-19. According to the report, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government early this week announced the reopening dates for two more Tokyo 2020 venues, with sports federations and the public able to access tennis and table tennis facilities in the coming months. Ariake Tennis Park is set to open to sports federations from October 25 to November 2, before personal use will be granted from November 8 to February 28. Sports federations will be able to use both the indoor courts and the Ariake Coliseum centre court, while the public may only use the indoor courts. To maintain court condition for Tokyo 2020, the outdoor courts and the show court will not be reopened.
Ariake Tennis Park will host the tennis and wheelchair tennis at the Olympics and Paralympics respectively. The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, which will host table tennis at the Games, will only be open to sports federations. They will be able to use the main arena and the sub arena from December 21 to March 31. The athletics track, indoor pools and training rooms that are part of the building will not be reopened to the public to ensure security for the Games. Both venues are scheduled to reopen under new COVID-19 safeguarding measures, with the pandemic causing the postponement of the Games to 2021. The Olympics are now scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8 next year, with the Paralympics due to follow between August 24 and September 5. Other venues that have opened for use due to the delay include those for swimming, hockey and badminton.
