Wednesday 24 July marks one year to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the world’s best athletes will gather to write their names into history.

Returning to Japan for the first time since 1964, the Opening Ceremony for Tokyo 2020 takes place at the brand new Olympic Stadium on Friday 24 July 2020. The new stadium is being built on the site of the venue that hosted the Opening Ceremony 55 years ago, which was demolished to make way for the new one.

The triathlon racing kicks off a few days into the Games on 27 July with the men’s race, before the women go for gold the following day. The mixed relay, making its Olympic debut in Tokyo, takes place a few days later on 1 August.

Making its fifth outing at an Olympic Games following its introduction in Sydney 2000; the introduction of mixed relay means athletes will have two opportunities to go for gold for the first time.

The action from all three races will be staged at the Odaiba Marine Park, where Tokyo Bay meets the city. The individual races will see athletes complete multiple laps for each discipline as they swim, bike, run around the course.

The mixed relay will be raced over a shorter, more compact course, with most of the racing taking place in and around the Seaside Park area. The finish for both races will bring the athletes onto the waterfront where the Olympic champions will take the tape and the prize they’ve been working towards for the previous four years.

Britain are the joint most successful triathlon nation at the Olympic Games and have taken home five of the last twelve medals. Alistair Brownlee won Great Britain’s first ever triathlon gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games and shared the podium with his brother Jonny. Vicky Holland became the first British female Olympic medallist in Rio by securing her bronze medal.

As part of the preparations for next year, Tokyo will be hosting test events in advance of the Games, with the triathlon taking place at the same venue from 15-18 August 2019. The test event will see men’s, women’s, paratriathlon and mixed relay races all taking place, as organisers and athletes alike seek to enhance their preparations for 2020. For British athletes, the test event also forms part of the selection criteria to make the triathlon squad of three men and three women for next year’s Olympic Games. 

Tokyo 2020 is based on three concepts, “Achieving Personal Best, Unity in Diversity and Connecting to Tomorrow”; and it is these that will enable the Games to live up to its vision that “Sport has the power to change the world and our future”.

Mike Cavendish, Performance Director at British Triathlon said: “One year to the Olympics is a special milestone for everyone involved. The countdown to the Games really starts now and we’re all excited about what Tokyo has in store, with the upcoming test event set to give great insight ahead of next year.

“The Olympic Games is about more than just the moment on the start line. It’s about the four years of hard work and dedication that have gone into becoming an Olympian. I hope the journey is something that all our athletes will always be proud of.

“Tokyo 2020 will be my first Games working with British Triathlon, and I am looking forward to seeing the best of the best race around the bay.”

2019 Tokyo ITU World Olympic Qualification Event

15-16 August 2019

2019 Tokyo ITU Paratriathlon World Cup

17 August 2019

2019 ITU World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Tokyo

18 August 2019

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

24 July – 9 August 2020

26 July 2020 (men’s individual event)

27 July 2020 (women’s individual event)

1 August 2020 (mixed relay event)