Tokyo 2016 issued a press release saying it has a new location for its International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and Main Press Centre (MPC) in the very heart of the city.
Working closely with relevant International Federations, the bid committee has also identified new venues for selected indoor sports and road cycling competitions to increase the compactness, sustainability and efficiency of its “innovative” plan.
Although Tokyo 2016 initially considered using the site of the Tsukji Fish Market for the IBC/MPC, it has announced that the new venue will be Tokyo Big Sight – home of the reverse-pyramid Conference Tower – which is also the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic venue for fencing, Taekwondo and wrestling. According to the press release, placing the IBC/MPC in this location ensures that tens of thousands of media will be just a stones throw away from the action and in the heart of the “exciting celebratory atmosphere the people of Tokyo will create during Games-time”.
The new location will provide greater convenience, access, and space for media from across the world, said the press release, the decision following a comprehensive analysis of the Beijing Games and consultation with Olympic and town planning experts.
Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo and President of Tokyo 2016 said, “choosing the Tokyo Big Sight to locate the IBC/MPC enhances our original Games plan. I visited the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games facilities and have closely examined London 2012’s plan, and we recognize that a big venue with a lower floor is easier to access for media carrying heavy equipment. The Tokyo Big Sight is close to the action and easy to access. The location is currently almost one hundred per cent in use for events, so there is a guaranteed legacy after the Games”.
Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO of Tokyo 2016 said, “I am delighted to announce further enhancements to Tokyo’s inspiring proposition for the Olympic Movement and I can guarantee that much more is still to come. The newly situated IBC and MPC place tens of thousands of media closer to Olympic and Paralympic sport at the very heart of city life in Tokyo and ensures journey times to venues will be extremely short for their maximum convenience.
“As part of our efforts to deliver the best possible Candidature File for the Olympic Movement, I am also pleased to confirm selected new venue locations for selected indoor sports events and road cycling. This move makes our inspiring Games plan even more compact and efficient, in conjunction with invaluable insight from International Federations and other expert members of the Olympic Family and Paralympic Family”.
