Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village highlights environmental protection, epidemic prevention

Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics opened the athletes' village to the media on Sunday, highlighting environmental protection and epidemic prevention.

The once-delayed Games is due to start on July 23 amid concern that the influx of thousands of people from around the world would contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

The place where more than 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries and regions will live is located in Harumi in Tokyo Bay, covering an area of 44 hectares. It consists of a shopping plaza, a function complex and an NOC service center.

The plaza, as the center of the village, covers an area of 5,300 square meters and has 19 functional facilities including a bank and a post office.

A 5G lounge and services such as remote ordering and real-time mobile phone translation will be provided for the athletes.

Following the Tokyo 2020 theme of using timber in the construction of Olympics venues, about 1,300 cubic meters of timbers, totaling 40,000 pieces, were used for the plaza.

The timbers will be reused in the construction of public buildings after the Olympic Games.

The residential area is designed to accommodate 18,000 people in 3,800 apartments.

Drawing on Japanese minimalist design aesthetics, the apartments have both single rooms and twin rooms, ranging from 9 to 12 square meters. The rooms are only equipped with tables, chairs and shower facilities.

All the beds are made of paper boards and polyethylene materials, which will be recycled after the event.

In addition, 17 electric unmanned buses with a capacity of 20 passengers will run 24 hours a day in the Olympic Park for the movement of athletes.

The cafeteria of the Olympic Village is located in the center. It has two floors with a total of 3,000 seats and is open 24 hours around the clock.

The dining hall will serve more than 700 kinds of food from around the world.

Organizers will ask athletes to dine alone and maintain social distancing from others to prevent the spread of the virus. The tables designed for six diners have been separated into four seats.

A screen showing the density of people in public places have been set up at the entrance of each area of the cafeteria, so that the athletes can avoid large gatherings.

In addition, there is an automatic beverage vending machine provided by sponsors on the first floor of each apartment, and the athletes can take the beverage for free with their cards.

The fitness and entertainment center of the Olympic Village is located in the complex next to the cafeteria, and all kinds of fitness equipment are already in place.

There is also a rehabilitation center in the complex, with two MRI machines and an X-ray machine for emergency treatment of injured athletes.

A fever clinic and an isolation clinic for close contacts have been set up in the Olympic Village.

Athletes with fever will be immediately sent to the fever clinic for testing. If the result is positive after three hours, they will be sent to the hospital for treatment or to a designated hotel for isolation according to the severity of the symptoms.

Warning signs and disinfectants are everywhere to strengthen epidemic prevention. When athletes check in, the organizing committee will also issue everyone an epidemic prevention package with disinfectant, disinfection tissues, and epidemic prevention tips in English.

"We are sorry for adding many restrictions to the athletes due to the epidemic. We hope to do our best to provide the athletes with a relaxing environment," said athletes' village mayor Saburo Kawabuchi.

Organizers also significantly shortened the athletes' stay in the village to reduce the risk of infection. Athletes can check in five days before the opening ceremony and must move out within two days after the games.

Athletes are required to wear masks constantly and receive saliva sampling every day.

The Olympic Village will officially open on July 13.