Tokyo, Japan, October 26, 2020: The grand opening ceremony of the Tokyo Aquatics Centre took place on Saturday, October 24.
The organising committee said that the opening of the cutting-edge venue would inspire athletes to continue with their preparations and give their best performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.
The ceremony included a dynamic demonstration where athletes showcased their disciplines, including swimming, diving and artistic swimming. Many of the athletes who took part in the inauguration have already qualified for the Olympic Games.
Next year, the venue will host Olympic swimming, diving and artistic swimming, along with Paralympic swimming competitions. It includes a 10-lane main pool, a sub pool and a diving pool, with the venue holding up to 15,000 fans for Games-time.
Both the main pool and the sub pool also feature movable floors and walls.
Swimmer Rikako Ikee, OCA MVP at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, joined three other athletes, including two Para swimmers, in showcasing a mixed 200m medley relay.
Ikee, who is the national records holder of both the 100m and 200m freestyle along with the 50m and 100m butterfly, applauded the state-of-the-art facility.
"It was comfortable to swim in because it’s three meters deep and I think it’s a great arena," she said in a statement.
The 20-year-old Ikee, who is recovering from leukemia which was diagnosed six months after the Asian Games, said she was excited thinking about the top athletes from Japan and the rest of the world who would perform there.
Constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the venue was completed in February 2020. Built with consideration for the environment and the accessibility for all, the venue’s design also incorporates Japanese features such as a ceiling inspired by origami, the Japanese papercraft.
In early December, the venue will have its first national competition — the 2020 National Swimming Championships.
