Olympics 2020 - Basketball

Published on : 19/04/2019
by : O.F.

In Saitama Prefecture

Basketball has been on the schedule for the Summer Olympics since 1936. In 2020, the discipline returns for its 20th Olympiad. And it will be accompanied by a variant of the sport in 3x3. Between Saitama and Odaiba, find out how these events will unfold.

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The Olympic History of Basketball

Basketball is played by two teams of five players on an indoor court 28 meters long by 15 meters wide. Players use their hands to control, dribble, pass, and shoot the ball. Games last 40 min, divided into four 10-minute quarters.

Invented in the United States in 1891, basketball became a demonstration sport at the 1904 Saint-Louis Games. This rapid evolution demonstrates the popularity of basketball.

It will become an Olympic sport at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. At that time only for men, women's basketball followed 40 years later and became an Olympic discipline at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, basketball matches will be held from July 26 to August 9.

USA vs. China au JO de Beijing en 2008 — USA vs. China at the Beijing Olympics in 2008
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The twelve qualified national teams are divided into two groups of six for a first tournament played in the form of a championship from July 26 to August 3. At the end of this first stage, the four best teams qualify for the quarter-finals on August 4 and 5, followed by the semi-finals on August 5 and 6.

The men's competition will start on Sunday, July 26 and the final will be held on Saturday, August 8. For the women's teams, the first match will be on Monday, July 27 and the final will be played on Sunday, August 9. It will therefore be possible to enjoy basketball matches almost from the beginning to the end of the Olympic Games, which are from July 24 to August 9.

To read: Olympic Games 2020 - Tokyo and the Summer Olympics

Saitama Super Arena

Having already hosted events during the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, the city of Saitama will be called upon again in 2020.

Located in the heart of the city, the Saitama Super Arena is one of Japan's largest multi-purpose stadiums. This facility hosts year-round sports competitions, concerts, conferences, and many other events. The stadium can accommodate up to 37,000 spectators.

Address: 8 Shintoshin, Chuo Ward, 330-9111 Saitama
Access: Take the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Utsunomiya Line, or JR Takasaki to Saitama-Shintoshin Station and then walk for about 1 min. Take the JR Saikyo Line to Kita-Yono Station and then walk about 7 min.

A two-minute walk from the Saitama Super Arena, the Cocoon City Saitama-Shintoshin shopping center has restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and even a cinema. As this mall is also across from Saitama's main station (Saitama-Shintoshin Station), it's the perfect place to pass the time before or after a game while waiting for your train.

Porte d'entrée du sanctuaire Hikawa — Entrance gate to Hikawa Shrine
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What is there to do in Saitama?

Although not particularly known as a tourist destination, the city of Saitama has a few places of interest. Don't miss it when you go support your team during their Olympic Games matches!

The Railway Museum traces the history of the railway in Japan. It exhibits many retired wagons and locomotives. You will also learn about the evolution of technology around trains, from steam locomotives to the impressive Shinkansen, the Japanese TGVs.

Saitama is also home to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, the world's first public bonsai museum. It is located in the " Omiya Bonsai Village ", a calm and quiet area that also hosts several bonsai nurseries. The museum aims to make visitors aware of the different aspects of this art. The museum exhibits the different styles of bonsai that exist in Japan. Audio guides and English descriptions are available.

Discover: A bonsai in Tokyo, four good addresses

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine was once the main shrine for the Shinto religion in the former province of Musashi, which covered what is now known as Greater Tokyo. The sanctuary is located in lush greenery and has many auxiliary buildings. A long path from the southern entrance leads to the shrine enclosure, where there is a tall vermilion gate and several adjoining shrines.

The Musashi Ichinomiya is the most important shrine of the Hikawa shrines in Japan, which enshrine Susanoo, the god of the sea and storms.

Vue de la baie de Tokyo depuis Odaiba — View of Tokyo Bay from Odaiba
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Basketball 3x3

Meanwhile, another basketball competition with a different format will be held at Aomi Urban Sports Park.

In English, "Aomi Urban Sports Park", is a temporary site located in the district of Aomi, one of the artificial islands of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. It's a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, known for its shopping malls, restaurants, futuristic attractions, and museums, all within easy walking distance.

Discover: Visiting Odaiba with children

3x3 basketball, contested in teams of three players, was added as a new event at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The competition will start on Saturday, July 25th and the finals will be on Wednesday, July 29th. There will be a women's tournament and a men's tournament running in parallel with eight teams in each of the tournaments.

Address: 1 Chome-1 Aomi, Koto City, 135-0064 Tokyo
Access: Take the Yurikamome line to Aomi station or Fune-no-kagakukan station. From these two stations, the site is a 10 min walk away.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics schedule

For more information on the 2020 Summer Olympics:

Our tours in Japan for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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