500 Days Until the Tokyo 2020 Games Pictograms and Caravan Bus Unveiled
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee has designated the period from March 1 to May 6, including the 500-day countdown to the Games' opening dates (July 24 and August 25, 2020), as the "500 Days to Go!" period. During this time, it will collaborate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, host municipalities, Games partners, and others to launch various events and projects.
Organizing Committee website:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/special/countdown/
On March 12, 500 days before the Olympic Games, events were held at the Panasonic Center Tokyo in Koto Ward, including the unveiling of the Olympic Sports Pictograms and the departure ceremony for the "500days" Caravan Bus.
The Sports Pictograms are signs that express each sport through design rather than language. They enable anyone to accurately recognize the sport and also serve an important role as a communication tool. The Tokyo 1964 Olympics are considered the first to officially adopt Sports Pictograms.
Masaki Furumiya, Deputy Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, stated, "The concept this time is a tribute to the 1964 pictograms. They are simple, easy to understand, and emphasize the dynamic energy of each sport. We expect they will be loved by everyone and help energize the Games."
Graphic designer Masaaki Hiromura of the sports pictogram development team commented, "Japanese people excel at making things compact and integrating functions. We aimed for a design worthy of the 'country of origin' of sports pictograms."
Athletes Shota Iizuka (Rio relay silver medalist) and Kiyo Shimizu (karate kata), along with students from Ariake Nishi Gakuen Elementary School in Koto Ward, took the stage. With the chant "Tokyo! 2020!", they simultaneously unveiled all 50 pictograms for the 33 sports.
Seeing the pictograms for their respective sports, the athletes marveled: "It perfectly captures the starting stance. You can almost see the muscles, like it's about to move any second," and "The uniform and belt are faithfully reproduced. The footwork is just like the real thing—amazing." Mimicking the pictograms' movements, they expressed their determination for the 2020 Games.
Pictogram site:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/news/notice/20190312-01.html
Later at the venue, a report session was held for the "Connecting the Future Project ~Let's Connect Everyone's Future Together~" (hosted by Panasonic).
Launched in February this year, this project aims to foster momentum for "rebuilding disaster-affected areas through hosting the Olympics." Elementary school students from Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo collaborate to create an original monument supporting "Everyone's Future." Sixty-five students from Ariake Nishi Gakuen and five students from Kusano, Iihiki, and Usui Elementary Schools in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, participated in the project. To date, they have held three workshops with Olympic officials, athletes, and experts.
Executive Officer Satoshi Takeyasu, noting the company's longstanding partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, stated the project's significance: "Today marks the memorable 500-day countdown, and we must not forget March 11, eight years ago."
On stage, children from both schools unveiled monuments they had created. These monuments were exchanged in the presence of workshop participants including Asao Tokolo, designer of the Games emblem; Ryo Taniguchi, designer of the mascots; Olympian Takahisa Oguchi (luge); and Kaei Ito, an Olympic swimmer and member of the Organizing Committee staff.
Official website:
https://www.panasonic.com/jp/corporate/center/tokyo/lbtt.html
Outside the venue, the unveiling and departure ceremony for the "500days" caravan bus took place.
From the same day until the 30th, the bus will tour Tokyo and the three prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, promoting the Games through exchange events.
The bus exterior features wraps of the Games mascot Miraitowa & Someity and the Games emblem. Inside, there are Olympic and Paralympic quiz corners and displays introducing pictograms. Events also include an interactive experience where participants can pretend to be top athletes and sign their support messages on camera lenses.
The bus departed for its tour, seen off by athletes Iizuka and Shimizu, children from Tokyo and Tohoku, and related parties.
Caravan Site:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/special/countdown/olympic_event/
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