Tokyo 2020 wants to become the most innovative game in history

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2017-04-06

On the third day 2017-04-06 of SportAccord convention, the second part of the plenary conference on Innovation in action was held. Tokyo 2020 will use some of the world's best technologies to develop the experience of the coming Olympic Games. They want Tokyo 2020 to be the most technologically advanced Olympic games of all times. 

Eiji Uda, Technology Innovation Officer, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, was the keynote speaker on the presentation  of The Most Innovative Games in History. 

At the presentation, Eiji Uda introduced some of the technologies they will use to innovate the sport-experience with volleyball, table tennis and gymnastics as examples. The new interactive volleyball system will use shot force indicator, overhead view, strategy tracking and jump height to analyse the games in a completely new way.  In table tennis, spin tracking, speed visualization move analysis and smart playback will be used to enhance the judging progress. All judging technology will be assisted by manually processing and judgement. 

The Spectators experience will be innovated as it is the plan to make sport more attractive for the people. At the airport light ID and the indoor navigation system will ensure better accessibility for everyone. Face recognition technology and face print authentication technology will be implemented in the security system. The plan is to make Multiview 3d visual technology at the new Power stadium which will enrich the experience of the audience through stop motion and multi-angle display both at the stadium video board, but also on the smart phone.  

Innovation in sustainability has also been planned. Tokyo 2020 are recycling precious metal to the production of the 5000 medals that are needed for the games. They have asked the community to lend a hand in this project making it a mass participation event.  They have developed a mobility plan, where they use fuel cell energy as a clean and sustainable energy source to transportation. 

As a result of Tokyo 2020, the tourism, construction and operation is expected to intensify leading to economic growth. Another positive effect of the Olympics Sports could be a decrease of national healthcare costs, because sports promote healthier a life-style. Eiji Uda believes that Tokyo might change the idea that the Olympic games have a high cost, but very little return.

To round up the presentation, Eiji Uda introduced some of the innovation-plans that has not yet been developed like technology for Paralympic, robotics and AI and fun with well-known Japanese mascots like Pikachu and Mario. It’s the plan in the future to innovate the way already known technology is being utilised.