Gion, a company that operates a comprehensive logistics business, announced on January 16 that it had been selected as the operator for the "Machida Kiso Yamazaki Para Arena Development and Operation Project," which was publicly solicited by Machida City, Tokyo.
Preparations are underway for the facility to open for use on October 1, 2028, and Gion also plans to acquire the naming rights for the facility.
<Facility Image>
This project is a pioneering initiative nationwide, in which a private company takes the lead in designing and constructing the facility and operating a specialized facility dedicated to parasports. Gion, as the leading company, participated from the design stage and has led the project for a total of 18 years, including operation and maintenance after completion.
Machida City has been focusing on promoting parasports, and has hosted international and national tournaments for para-badminton and blind football. As a "host town for an inclusive society" during the Tokyo 2020 Games, it has been working on community development through parasports. To continue and further develop these efforts, the city will utilize a portion of the former Tadao Sixth Elementary School site to open a new sports hub, a gymnasium incorporating the latest universal design principles.
<Designed so that people with and without disabilities can play together>
The facility will incorporate an "inclusive plaza" where people with and without disabilities can play together, as well as universal design features. It will serve as a competition venue for athletes and will also include training rooms and multi-purpose rooms for use by local residents. In the event of a disaster, it will function as a "welfare evacuation center" where vulnerable individuals can take refuge, aiming to become a central hub for intergenerational exchange. The total project cost is approximately 46 billion yen.
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