Tokyo’s new 60,000-seater National Stadium – which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2020 Summer Olympics, as well as all track and field events – has recently been completed. Here’s what to know about the space
US$1.4 billion
The total cost of constructing the stadium. Being an Olympics host doesn’t come cheap. As of December 2019, Tokyo had already spent US$9.7 billion on 340 projects related to the event, and that figure is only getting bigger.
500
The number of spots in the stands designated for wheelchair users. Much care and attention has been taken to make other parts of the stadium more accessible – for instance, toilet seat heights have been raised by a centimetre to aid those who have difficulties sitting and standing.
1,300
The number of WiFi hotspots installed to accommodate up to 30,000 simultaneous connections – so spectators can tweet, post and livestream events to their hearts’ content.
Catch these indoor sports events happening in March
1. Ladbrokes UK Open, Minehead, England (6–8 March)
In its 18th year, the tournament sees darts professionals from all over the world competing in intense elimination matches. A prize money of £450,000 is up for grabs.
2. Candidates Tournament, Yekaterinburg, Russia (15 March–5 April)
Eight renowned chess players will face off in a double round-robin match-up, where the winner earns the right to challenge the defending world champion.
3. International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, Jaca, Spain (29 March–4 April)
In this group, national teams from the UK, Spain and elsewhere battle it out for qualification in the 2021 competition.
Singapore Airlines flies to Tokyo daily. To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com
SEE ALSO: 7 quieter places to spot cherry blossoms in Japan
This article was originally published in the March 2020 issue of SilverKris magazine
