the Games’ legacy continues as sports activities flourish

The Olympic legacy continues to evolve beyond the host city of Tokyo. According to the Japan Sport Council (JSC), many cities across Japan benefitted from hosting pre-Games training camps, while others have used the momentum created by the Games as an opportunity to enhance existing sports hubs.

With the slogan “Utsunomiya ‒ City of 3×3”, Utsunomiya City, located north of Greater Tokyo, is engaging the local community in 3×3 basketball, while promoting the local food and culture. The city is organising athlete visits to local schools, and equipping them with basketball courts and balls. In 2022, it was the first Japanese city to host the opening round of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Utsunomiya, and it will continue to host the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Opener until the 2024 season.

Famous for its natural surroundings, with high mountains beloved by hikers, Morioka in Iwate Prefecture hosted sport climbing training camps before the Tokyo 2020 Games. With the momentum created by the Games, the prefecture went on to host the IFSC Climbing World Cup B&L Combined in 2022, and continues to support both elite and younger athletes.

Tokyo 2020 venues enjoyed by the public

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, which seeks to minimise construction and thus reduce the carbon emissions of the Games, only eight new competition venues were built for Tokyo 2020. All of them have now been reopened for public use, with the Olympic Village set to reopen in 2024.

Located close to central Tokyo, the Sea Forest Waterway, which hosted the Tokyo 2020 rowing and canoeing competitions,** was reopened **by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) in April 2022. It is now bustling with competitions in a variety of sports, including rowing, canoeing and triathlon. It has become a dynamic hotspot within Tokyo Bay, with music festivals and events enjoyed by the public.