Faris Alrushud, Riyadh

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike says that “work is still in progress to ensure that all measures are provided to avoid the high temperatures that Japanese cities are expected to witness in synchronism with the start of the Tokyo Olympics next year.”

In a recent interview with Jiji Press, she confirmed that the Tokyo government is working on paving the streets with heat-resistant materials and preparing spaces on the streets to allow trees to grow and create enough shade to reduce extreme temperatures.

German International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said that he had “never seen an Olympic city ready to host the Olympic Games a year in advance like the city of Tokyo. I expect athletes to have a great experience.”

Japan has officially inaugurated the New National Stadium dedicated to the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020. The venue can accommodate about 60,000 spectators and is built to resist high temperatures expected during the Olympics.

The New National Stadium’s exterior frame was designed in a way that protects it from sunlight and rain. It was also equipped with 185 fans and 16 fully air-conditioned halls.

The venue witnessed its first race on Dec. 21, which retired Jamaican champion Usain Bolt attended.

The first official event hosted by the stadium will be the Emperor’s Cup soccer final on the first day of 2020.

As a precautionary measure, Japanese officials have decided to transfer the marathon to the city of Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, as the region has lower temperatures compared to the capital, Tokyo, which has experienced unusual heatwaves in recent years.