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Nine months before it will stage Olympic swimming and diving competitions, the aquatic centre for the Tokyo 2020 Games has been officially opened to the public some

Organisers decided that the Tokyo Aquatics Centre could become available from this month for private use as well as to sports federations for competition and practice use, describing the opening of the facility as “a glimpse of the Games’ rich legacy even before they take place”.

The US$520 million facility, constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), was inaugurated on Saturday, some eight months after work on it concluded and seven months after its scheduled opening ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The inauguration of what will become the home of Japanese aquatics featured a ceremony showcasing Olympic swimming, diving, artistic swimming and Paralympic swimming. Following the displays, local residents were invited to tour the venue.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters “there have been some unexpected things such as the postponement, but we need to hold a successful Games.

“I really hope that the wonderful swimmers can unleash their powers and the world’s top swimmers exhibit great performances at this centre.”

The Tokyo Aquatics Centre includes a 10-lane main pool, a sub pool and a diving pool and will have a seating capacity of 15,000 at Games-time.

The facility was due to officially open on 22nd March but that event was cancelled over coronavirus fears. Two days later the entire Tokyo Games was postponed until 2021. It was the last of the six permanent venues to be completed when work concluded in February.

Work on the venue began with the roof, which was built on the floor and thus shortened the construction period of the whole venue since it saved labour of elevating both workers and equipment.

The venue has solar panels, and ground heat exchanger systems which will be used for heating the pools’ water, significantly reducing the facility’s carbon footprint.

The layout of the venue is based on the Tokyo 2020 Accessibility Guidelines, with the facility designed to be accessible to all, including the elderly, people with impairments, parents with young children and those with guide dogs. It has universally designed toilets and wheelchair-accessible seats in areas designed with enough height difference between the rows of seating to ensure that those in wheelchairs can see clearly, even if spectators in front of them stand up.

Last week, the organising committee for next year’s Olympics in Tokyo concluded three days of security tests and COVID-19 countermeasures as it looks to ensure that the rescheduled Games can go ahead safely.

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