First Test Event Schedule Released

(ATR) The second of around 50 events used to test the preparations of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will begin later this month.

Water polo will be the second test event for Tokyo 2020 on Oct. 5-7 at the Tatsumi International Swimming Center. The venue is one of the existing sport facilities being used for the Olympics, and the event will be organized by the Japanese Swimming Federation.

Sailing always begins the Summer Olympic test event program, and had its first event in September. The second sailing test event will be held on August 17-22, 2019, organized by Tokyo 2020.

Both national and international federations will organize some of the events, along with Tokyo 2020.

The calendar for the test event program can be found here. So far only 16 events have been scheduled, but the organizing committee said in a release more dates will be posted by the end of the year. Currently no Paralympic events have been scheduled.

Of the five new sports added to Tokyo 2020 Olympics, only karate has its event scheduled. The karate test event will be held on Sept. 6-8, 2019.

Following the water polo test event, Tokyo 2020 said there will be three waves to the event program. The first set of events will run from June to September 2019 and focus on outdoor sports. The second will be from October 2019 to February 2020, and the final set will be from March to May 2020 to "focus on the confirmation of communication and reporting lines".

"The test events will give organisers and the Japanese public the opportunity to experience sport in the Olympic venues and in some cases for the first time," Tokyo 2020 said in a statement about the test event schedule.

"In addition to allowing Tokyo 2020 to get operational experience, some events will also let the Japanese public get a glimpse of the world’s best athletes in those disciplines, including potential Olympic and Paralympic Games competitors."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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