Yumenoshima Park hosted the archery competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Although matchplay took place in a temporary stadium, which has since been deconstructed, conversion of the next-door qualification venue to a permanent range is finished and archers returned to the field last week for the start of Japan’s national team trials.
“Having an archery field in Tokyo, this is a place that people can feel archery closer than ever before,” said Yuko Okura, who worked as the sports manager for the Games.
“I feel now that this facility is part of the legacy of Tokyo 2020. People walking in the park have the chance to see, to feel archery.”
“It will be an important location to grow support for the sport in the city.”
The Yumenoshima Park range, which accommodated more than 80 targets during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, was always designed to remain as a legacy venue and constructed with a substantial shelter, central viewing deck and concrete shooting line.
Archers shoot at Japanese trials in November 2021.
Archers shoot at Japanese trials in November 2021.
The Olympic legacy venue at Yumenoshima Park.
The Olympic legacy venue at Yumenoshima Park.
The qualification venue at Yumenoshima Park during the Olympics.
Yumenoshima Park was constructed with a permanent shelter and viewing platform.
An archer shoots during practice at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
A back-stop mound has since been added and the considerable Games-specific branding removed.
“It’s a little sad to see all the venue colour removed. But when I see archery happening it reminds me that this was actually an Olympic and Paralympic venue,” added Yuko.
“It feels a little bit like a dream, like it was a long time ago, and I can’t believe it’s only been finished for two months.”
Three Olympic records were set on the field during Tokyo, all by Korean sensation An San – who went on to become the first archer in history to win three gold medals at one edition of the Games.
Yumenoshima Park marks the first Olympic archery range to remain as a legacy venue since Sydney 2000.
(The ranking rounds in Athens, Beijing, London and Rio all took place in temporary facilities.)
Yumenoshima translates as ‘dream island’. The park was constructed on reclaimed land, previously used for waste disposal.
Header picture courtesy Yoshi Komatsu.
