As the two-year mark approaches for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan is "being scorched by an intense heatwave that has prompted fears of similar extreme weather when the sporting showpiece takes place in the country," according to Jack Tarrant of REUTERS. More than a dozen people have died as temperatures "soared" above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time since '13, "and the thermometer hit 43 Celsius during an Olympic Stadium media tour on Wednesday." The opening ceremony will be held at the venue on July 24, 2020, a time of year when Tokyo records average temperatures of around 25C (77F), "which combined with severe humidity will create tough conditions for athletes and spectators alike." The issue is one Tokyo 2020 organizers are talking "seriously" as they "consider a raft of counter measures to battle the extreme heat." These include "increased shelter and cooling fans provided for spectators" and the installation of a "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature" device designed to provide constant feedback to assess levels of heat stress at each venue (REUTERS, 7/18).
HALFWAY THERE: KYODO reported the Japan Sport Council opened up the construction site of the main stadium to the press on Wednesday and "revealed a nearly-half completed structure." The stadium, located in Tokyo's central Shinjuku Ward, is about 40% complete, with construction "going smoothly," according to the JSC. Costs are expected to reach nearly 150B yen ($1.3B) to build the 68,000-seat venue, which will be able to hold about 80,000 people with temporary seating (KYODO, 7/18).
