Tokyo 2020 to provide multi-lingual app for international attendees in venues

Competition venues at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games have gotten more diverse and inclusive with the addition of announcements being made in multiple languages and accessible for people with disabilities.

The feature will be made possible using an app developed by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee with the cooperation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The new service will also allow content displayed in writing to be converted to speech, and is being provided as part of Tokyo 2020’s efforts to promote the  Games’ vision of diversity and inclusion.

The app, known as the Omotenashi Guide, will additionally provide updates on the status of individual competitions as well as security information and emergency information to those who do not understand Japanese or with hearing and vision impairments, allowing more people to enjoy the Games safely, securely and comfortably. The technology deployed in this initiative will subsequently be used in various scenarios by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Government of Japan and other organisations as one of the legacies of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Details of the Omotenashi Guide service are available online.

Main functions:

• The content of voice announcements at competition venues will be displayed on smartphones in seven languages.
• The status of competitions will similarly be displayed on smartphones in seven languages, with written content converted to audio.
• Languages supported will be Japanese, English, Chinese (traditional / simplified), Korean, Spanish, French.