Olympic venue becomes Japan’s first sports facility to achieve project certification

4 February 2020 Sustainable construction

As the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo come closer, several new sports sites are being completed. One of the completed sites, the indoor tennis court of the Ariake Tennis Park Club House, is Japan’s first sports facility to achieve SGEC/PEFC project certification.

From left: Mr. Kajiya, Secretary General of SGEC/PEFC Japan, Dr. Sasaki, Chairman of SGEC/PEFC Japan and Ms. Koike, Tokyo Governor

It is crowned by a roof made of glued laminated timber (glulam) of SGEC/PEFC-certified Japanese larch wood, produced in Abashiri, Hokkaido in northern Japan.

“I am sure that this building will become a symbol of sustainability for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Tatsuya Kajiya, Secretary General of SGEC/PEFC Japan. 

Mr. Kajiya also highlighted the important role such landmark buildings have in increasing the public’s awareness of PEFC/SGEC certification and sustainable forest management.

A sustainable first

The tennis court was commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). In a conferment ceremony, the certification body Japan Gas Appliances Inspection Association (JIA) handed the certificate to Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo.

“We selected the timber for the Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games in accordance with the wood procurement policy established by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Games. Sustainability, conservation of biodiversity and protection of the rights of local community residents were key factors in the procurement process,” said Ms. Koike.

“It is great that the first sports facility to achieve SGEC/PEFC project certification is a TMG-related, Olympic venue. We will continue certification-based procurements to achieve the aim of a sustainable society.”

A special venue

The Ariake Tennis Park area is widely known as the home of tennis in Japan. Surrounded by trees and rich greenery, the park houses 48 outdoor tennis courts and the Ariake Coliseum. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the facility will host tennis and wheelchair tennis games.

The tennis park is the second Olympic site that contains SGEC/PEFC-certified timber. The new National Olympic Stadium was completed last year, and in line with one of the slogans of the Olympics, “Unity in Diversity”, contains certified timber from all 47 prefectures in Japan.