Japan marks 500 days until 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Japan marked 500 days to go until next year’s Tokyo Olympics formally begin as the local organising committee unveiled a set of pictograms representing the different sports and competitions to be contested at the 2020 Summer Games.

Organisers announced the 50 Olympic pictograms at an event in Tokyo, which was joined by two medal-winning Japanese athletes. A number of events were hosted in the capital and surrounding areas to mark the 500-day milestone and set the mood for the games.

The pictograms, which have become part of every Olympics’ unique livery, were first introduced in 1964, the last time Tokyo hosted the event. The pictograms for the 2020 Games are based on the 20 that were used at the previous Tokyo Olympics.

The organising committee collaborated with the International Olympic Committee and sport governing bodies in creating the 50 icons. A team of some 10 people, including graphic designer Masaaki Hiromura, started developing the pictograms in June 2017.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which will have its opening and closing ceremonies on July 24 and Aug. 9, respectively, will feature a record 339 events. Judo will have 15 events and open in 501 days at 25 July.

Meanwhile, preparations to stage the competition for some 11,000 athletes from around the world are making progress.

Most of the venues were 50 to 70 percent complete by the end of January as the construction efforts sped up ahead of test events that will kick off this summer.

The organisers said in January they will begin accepting ticket applications from Japanese fans as early as this April.