The development of the Kasai canoe Slalom center on the outskirts of Tokyo could play a key role in the development of the sport in Japan, according to site Manager Kazufumi Kuwabara.

The purpose-built centre will host canoe slalom at the Olympic games between 26 and 31 July next year.

Kuwabara said the Olympic heritage site will bring Canoeing to the public in a way it never has before. 

“This is the first ever Technopark in Japan,” Kuwabara said, commenting on preparations for the Olympic games.

“Usually until now we are forced to use natural rivers in the mountains, which can be very restrictive for fans.

“For fans and athletes now, we have an object. 

“In my opinion, it will help with the development of Canoeing in Japan and it brings it closer to the public.”

The canoe slalom, which is 200 meters long and has a 4.5 m height differential from start to finish, meets the requirements of the International canoe Federation and The Japanese canoe Federation.

Temporary Seating will accommodate up to 7,500 fans.

The venue is up and running and will host the NHK canoe Cup slalom competition this weekend before the test event on October 25 to 26 when the technical aspects of the course will go into focus.

Kuwabara explained that the administration building is still under construction and said it should be completed by December, while the media center is also nearing completion.

He added: “The field of play was completed in July and the man-made course follows a similar concept used in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“The volume of water and its intensity can be adjusted, which means we are able to level the playing field for all athletes.”

An Olympic heritage site, the Kasai canoe Slalom center will remain in use after the Games for water sports and rafting for locals and the General public.

Kuwabara said the site’s proximity to Kasai Rinkai Park, an amusement Park that attracts three million visitors annually, means it offers a great place for the whole family to enjoy.

The site was built at a total cost of 7 billion pounds (50.3 million euros/64.3 million euros/ 58 million euros).

Earlier in the day, the tour venue stopped at Makuhari Messe, where Taekwondo and fencing competitions for the Olympics are home, as well as sitting volleyball and goaltending during the Paralympics.

The Olympics will see the venue used for sporting action for the first time.

The competition will be divided between three halls, with an audience capacity of 10,000 seats in hall A, 8000 in hall B and 5,500 in hall C, which will include 500 temporary seats.

Patrick O’kane-Junior reporter insidethegames.biz He graduated from the University of Sunderland with a degree in journalism studies, and built his experience as a sports reporter at the Westmorland Herald in Cumbria. Patrick was a flash quote reporter for LOCOG at the London 2012 Paralympics and covers the Giro d’italia, Tour de France and Heineken Cup Rugby as a freelance writer.

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At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Iranian judoka Arash Miresmaeili was disqualified for weighing in at nearly four pounds above the limit for his weight class of his under-66 kilograms match against an Israeli opponent Ehud Vaks in the first round. It was claimed Miresmaeili had gone on an eating binge to protest the International Olympic Committee’s recognition of the state of Israel. Iran does not recognise the state of Israel, and Miresmaeili’s actions won praise from high-ranking Iranian officials. Mohammad Khatami, the country’s President at the time, was quoted as saying Miresmaili’s actions would be “recorded in the history of Iranian glories”.  He was later awarded $125,000 by the Government – the same amount given to Olympic gold medallists. 

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