(Construction) - Following the first Olympic Games in Tokyo in 57 years, the Paralympics, the sports event for athletes with disabilities will begin on August 24.
The construction and modification of handicapped-accessible facilities is underway at the sports venues and in the surrounding public transportation, to help the athletes with safe and comfortable access. The government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aim to use the games as an opportunity to realize a symbiotic society that represents diversity. Taking into account the purpose of the revised Barrier-Free Act, further acceleration of barrier-free construction throughout the country is expected.
 |
| Tokyo develops Accessible City to welcome Paralympic Athletes. |
In the process of development of the venues for the games, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established the Accessibility Workshop to hear the opinions of people with disabilities and sports organizations for the disabled, and discussed design policies from the perspective of people with disabilities. They also created an environment where the disabled and the elderly can move around safely and smoothly. In the "Road Barrier-Free Promotion Plan" formulated by the metropolitan government prior to the Games, it was stated that a total of 90 kilometers of metropolitan roads, including those around the venues, would be accessible to everyone before the opening of the Olympics.
Railway companies are promoting accessible stations in accordance with the Barrier-Free Development Guidelines revised by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in March 2020. JR East and Tokyo Metro have also been working to reduce the gap between the platform and the train cars so that wheelchair users and the elderly can get on and off smoothly. The revised Barrier-Free Act sets a goal of creating a mobility environment where all people can respect each other's individuality as a legacy of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The immediate task is to expand the use of barrier-free facilities across the country, which have been first introduced in public transportation spaces in major cities. (2021/08/16)
The Daily Engineering and Construction News of Japan
Theo
