Para-athlete gymnasium used for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics to end operations

From Kyodo via Yahoo! Japan

September 6 2021

TOKYO – The Nippon Foundation Para-Arena, a dedicated gymnasium that opened in 2018 as a facility to strengthen athletes with disabilities in preparation for Tokyo hosting the Paralympics, is expected to end operations by the end of fiscal year 2021. This is because the use of the land is only allowed for three years, and the building may be demolished after the closure. Already, the arena is only accepting reservations until the end of December.

As momentum for the spread of the sport grew with the excitement of the Tokyo Games, those involved will be forced to secure a new training base. Renshi Chokai, 22, who helped the men’s wheelchair basketball team win the silver medal, said, “It’s a difficult problem to decide where to practice. It’s up to us to make the sport more exciting.”