January 26, 2016: Japanese government announces the first list of host towns (44 municipalities) where Olympic national teams will have their training camps before the Games. Total 14,599 submissions are received, many more than the 104 entries received the first time. 2015: Total sponsorship for Tokyo 2020 reaches approximately US$1.3 billion, setting an Olympics record. Another major embarrassment for Tokyo 2020. Masuzoe had wanted to delay his resignation until the Rio Olympics so he could receive the Olympic flag during the Closing Ceremonies at Maracanã Stadium. September 7-18, 2016: Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ???? April 25, 2016: The official emblems/logos for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics are selected and unveiled to replace the allegedly plagiarized emblems. They include Worldwide Olympic Sponsors, Tokyo 2020 Gold Partners, Tokyo 2020 Official Partners, and Tokyo 2020 Official Supporters. Tokyo Governor Masuzoe states the next day that he wants competitions to also be held in the Tohoku Region. June 19, 2015: TMG’s own volunteer tour guide program for foreign tourists named "Omotenashi Tokyo" is launched with 1,300 volunteer tour guides guiding tourists in Shinjuku and Ueno while wearing widely criticized uniforms selected by Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi.
November 25, 2016: TMG forms a Tokyo brand review panel (東京ブランドの在り方検討会) to redesign the poorly received uniform selected by preceding Governor Masuzoe for Tokyo’s volunteer tour guides. ???? July 31, 2016: To replace disgraced Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi, Koike Yuriko is elected Tokyo Governor, Tokyo’s first woman governor to finally bring some stability to TMG. August 21, 2016: At the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko receives the Olympic Flag from the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes. June 15, Popular Billiards Club Design 2016: Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi resigns after widespread disapproval of his extravagant spending of political and public funds for personal use. The uniform is later redesigned in November 2016 under the order of Tokyo Governor Koike. June 13, 2018: A special law is passed to make the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony day and the day before national holidays. June 12, 2015: TOCOG announces that 26 sports federations have applied to have the host city add their sport to the 2020 Olympics. March 30, 2015: In an interview with NHK, a WHO official points out that Olympic host city Tokyo still does not have an ordinance to provide non-smoking spaces in restaurants.
June 23, 2015: City of Paris announces its intention to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Notably, there is a Pierre-Louis Rouillard statue of a mastiff and her pups in the forecourt, with a bronze equivalent found in the Louvre in Paris. Most of the ¥6 billion spent for the architectural design is unlikely to be returned, and there are fears that Hadid would sue for the cancellation (Hadid never sued). Asao Tokolo wins the emblem design contest. September 1, 2015: Accusations of plagiarism against Tokyo 2020 emblem designer Sano Kenjiro result in his emblems being scrapped. July 24, 2015: Tokyo 2020 emblems designed by Sano Kenjiro are unveiled. May 2016: Large Tokyo 2020 exterior billboards featuring the official emblem and mascots are installed on TMG buildings in Shinjuku. June 25, 2015: For the Japanese government’s preparation of the Tokyo 2020 Games, Endo Toshiaki is appointed as the first Cabinet-level Olympics Minister.
October 1, 2015: The new Japan Sports Agency to nuture and promote sports in Japan is established under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology with Suzuki Daichi as the agency’s first commissioner. July 17, 2015: Prime Minister Abe announces that architect Zaha Hadid‘s design of the new Japan National Stadium would be scrapped due to spiraling construction costs and criticism of the intrusive design by Japanese architects, including Kuma Kengo whose stadium design is later chosen. December 2015: A new design for the Japan National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) created by architect Kuma Kengo is chosen. November 16-December 7, 2015: Design submissions from the public to replace the scrapped Tokyo 2020 emblems are accepted from individuals and groups. 2020 Fan Park and Fan Area (in Odaiba). Skateboarding is moved from Aomi to Ariake Urban Sports Park to reduce costs. Public opinions about the candidate designs are accepted and taken into consideration for the final selection voted by a panel of 21 prominent designers, artists, sports figures, lawyers, etc., who have met and deliberated for 110 hours total. A total of 2,042 designs are submitted. April 8, 2016: From among 14,599 entries from the public, four candidate designs for the official Tokyo 2020 emblems are announced.