No.116 Olympic Cycling Road Race and Community Live Site in Inagi

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had a tumultuous start with various opinions swirling, ranging from absolute opposition, preferably opposition, truly wishing it wouldn't happen but if it must, then without spectators, somewhat in favor, to strong support. However, the opening ceremony was held on July 23, 2021, and the competitions began.

The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics were decided to be held in 2013, and the venues for each event were gradually confirmed, but the course for the road cycling race took a long time to be determined.
The initial bid file designated the Imperial Palace Outer Garden as the starting and ending point, with a course circling around Inagi City and Tama City. However, as rumors of course changes circulated without any progress, I submitted a request letter in May 2016 to then-Governor Yoichi Masuzoe and Chairman of the Organizing Committee Yoshiro Mori. In June of the same year, we also received a similar Opinion Statement from the Inagi City Council, and we began our course bid activities. In June 2017, the goal was suddenly changed to Fuji Speedway, and at one point, it seemed that Inagi City would be excluded. However, our collaborative bid and request activities with the Mayor of Tama City and the Tama City Council bore fruit, and in August 2018, it was decided that a course passing through both cities would be realized.

The city has officially decided on the course for the road race, and has declared itself as "Inagi, the Bicycle Town," and will promote various bicycle initiatives.
In September 2018, we introduced a share bicycle system and attracted a cyclocross bicycle race to the Tama River riverbed, which we were able to promote as a tourist resource under the name "Inagi Cross." In November, we participated in the establishment of the National Association of Mayors Promoting Community Development through Bicycle Utilization, and we have also made submissions for the development of bicycle lanes along the main road. Furthermore, in June of this year, we opened a cycle cafe that embodies the legacy of the Olympic cycling events.

Each Olympic event began after various preparations and related project plans by all stakeholders, but it was unfortunate that many competition venues were held without spectators. Furthermore, all live sites established by Tokyo Metropolitan Government were canceled.
Although the torch relay on public roads in Tokyo has been canceled, we discussed with the relevant parties until the last minute whether we could somehow hold the event "Community Live Site in Inagi," which is an event to watch and support the only Olympic event taking place in the city, the cycling road race.
The live site is set up in places where many people come and go, such as around terminal stations, with the purpose of providing public viewings and other activities so that a large number of people can enjoy the Olympics. However, I believe it will have to be canceled during the declaration of a state of emergency.

On the other hand, community live sites are relatively small facilities established by each municipality with the support of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the enjoyment of local residents. The city has decided to hold the event, determining that safety can be ensured while thoroughly implementing infection prevention measures.
Initially, we planned to accommodate around 2,000 people for various events inside and outside the "Sougo Taiikukan", but we have reduced the capacity to 800 people, implemented a pre-registration system, ensured thorough temperature checks and hand sanitization, reduced the number of food trucks, established a capacity limit and thorough sanitization for the dining area, and scaled down the experiential events.
Thus, the men's road race was held on the 24th and the women's road race on the 25th. A large outdoor monitor was set up at the community live site for both days, allowing attendees to enjoy watching the races with commentary from former cyclists and celebrities with cycling experience.
Additionally, to allow you to watch from home, we have provided the URL for the live broadcast from the city's email distribution service, so I believe many people were able to watch it through the online stream.
In the familiar everyday scenery of our usual roads, the extraordinary event of the Olympics was held, and the sight of cyclists from around the world racing is likely to have become an unforgettable memory for many.

We would like to express our gratitude to all the individuals involved in the organization of the road race and community live site, as well as to the Self-Defense Forces, police, volunteers, and fire brigade members who provided roadside security.