It is claimed this bold initiative will create an environment that will more directly engage spectators and visitors during the Games.

"TOKYO WATERFRONT CITY" includes the Aomi and Daiba neighbourhoods as well as the new city area of Ariake, where a number of urban development projects are under way.

Events for many of the urban and youth-focused sports that will feature at the Olympics for the first time at Tokyo 2020 – such as 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and sport climbing – will be held there.

It is planned to make the area more attractive to visitors by deploying a new approach to the Games experience that will put competition facilities in an urban environment.

Among the three concepts behind the new area, which is said to be bringing a new dimension to the Olympics and Paralympics, is "Come out of the stadium and step into the streets".

The others are "This is not just an event to 'watch' – it is an event to 'touch and feel'", and "The transition from a 'passive experience' to an 'active experience' has begun".

It is claimed the experience marks a departure from previous Games and will be a place where everyone can enjoy the Olympics and Paralympics in close proximity in a sophisticated urban environment.

"As such, 'TOKYO WATERFRONT CITY' will be a symbolic area where urban lifestyles and sports will come together during the Tokyo 2020 Games," a statement from the Organising Committee reads.

Tokyo 2020 plans to develop three symbolic features at "TOKYO WATERFRONT CITY".

One of them is the Urban Festival, which will take place in Ariake Urban Sports Park, where BMX racing and freestyle as well as skateboarding events will be held, and in Ariake Gymnastics Centre, where gymnastics and boccia competitions will take place.

It is claimed visitors will feel and experience urban sports there, with exhibition performances by athletes and a sport experience area.

They will be able to try their hand at urban sports such as BMX and skateboarding, with Tokyo 2020 also planning to offer many other interactive opportunities with cool spots featuring mist sprays and shaded areas.

Another symbolic feature due to be developed is the Playground, where visitors without tickets to events can watch top athletes while they train and warm-up for events.

There will be open-air warm-up areas where 3x3 basketball players and sport climbing athletes can be watched during their training, and interacted with as well.

Visitors will also be able to try out urban sports there.

The Playground area will be located in the Tokyo 2020 partner showcasing area adjacent to Aomi Urban Sports Park.

Completing the trio of symbolic features set to be developed is the Olympic Promenade, which will be located in the Centre Promenade Park that links the Aomi and Daiba areas with the Ariake area.

The Olympic and Paralympic cauldron will be set up there, with sports and artistic performance areas, cool spots, rest areas and eating and drinking spaces for spectators.

It will be an open area that everyone can visit and where people will be able to enjoy the Games.

Adopting a similar approach to the "TOKYO WATERFRONT CITY" concept, Tokyo 2020 is also working on plans to create engaging opportunities at the surfing venue in the style of a festival dedicated to the sport.

Further features of the "TOKYO WATERFRONT CITY" are a Tokyo 2020 megastore and seven Games venues, including the aforementioned Aomi Urban Sports Park, Ariake Urban Sports Park and Ariake Gymnastics Centre. 

Daiba's Odaiba Marine Park and Shiokaze Park are among the others along with Ariake Tennis Park and Ariake Arena.

"We not only want people to come to the Olympic Games, we also want to take the Games to the people," Christophe Dubi, the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Games executive director, said. 

"We want to make Olympic sport as accessible and engaging as possible; we want to create an environment where they are both entertained and inspired, where they can witness history in the making and then get active themselves. 

"Today’s announcement by Tokyo 2020 is very exciting.

"But stay tuned, this is just the start."