Today, Wednesday July 24, FINA celebrates one year to go to next summer’s Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan from July 24- August 9, 2020.

As a pillar of the Olympic programme, Aquatic sports have the highest number of finals as Tokyo will host 49 aquatic events for the first time in history, with an additional day in the swimming competition.

The success of FINA competitions within the Games’ programme is undeniable. Our five disciplines are generating the highest cumulative TV viewing rate of the Games and this is also true concerning the internet reach and digital exposure among youth.

For Tokyo 2020, FINA has worked with the architects for the construction of an Aquatic Centre that will leave a very strong legacy for the Tokyo and Japan Aquatic community. 

For the occasion, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled the designs of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals today, exactly one year before the commencement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The medal ribbon and case designs were also unveiled.

The design of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals reflects the concept that in order to achieve glory, athletes have to strive for victory on a daily basis. The medals resemble rough stones that have been polished and which now shine, with “light” and “brilliance” their overall themes.

The medals collect and reflect myriad patterns of light, symbolising the energy of the athletes and those who support them; their design is intended to symbolise diversity and represent a world where people who compete in sports and work hard are honoured. The brilliance of the medals’ reflections signifies the warm glow of friendship depicted by people all over the world holding hands.

A total of 43 venues—eight new permanent venues, 25 existing sites and 10 temporary venues— will be used at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Half of the new permanent venues are already completed and the overall preparation of all venues is progressing on schedule. The residential buildings of the Olympic Village will be completed in December 2019.

The Tokyo Aquatics Centre is scheduled to be completed in February 2020 with 75% of it already finished.