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Facial ID Technology Used in 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Facial recognition technology will be used at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to control the entry of athletes, officials and journalists at the games’ venues, according to Japan Times.

The decision to implement high-tech identification follows concerns about terrorism. The games’ organizers aim to bolster security and prevent those involved in the 2020 Games from borrowing official ID cards to access venues. Digital verification will make it difficult to use stolen or forged cards and likely reduce waiting times.

The technology won’t be used for spectators, who will be asked to show their tickets and submit to luggage checks just as in the previous Olympics, the sources, who declined to be named, said Saturday.

The organizing committee will distribute ID cards bearing facial photos for those involved in the games. The total is expected to reach around 300,000 to 400,000 and includes athletes and media representatives.

When they enter the venues via the competition entrances or media facilities, their faces will automatically be checked against registered photos for discrepancies.

Japan’s Justice Ministry deployed gates using facial recognition technology to screen passengers at Tokyo’s Haneda airport in October.

The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to be held from July 24 to Aug. 9, followed by the Paralympics from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6. Given Japan’s hot and humid summers, organizers are also studying how to get people into the venues quickly.

Facial ID Technology Used in 2020 Tokyo Olympics

The decision to implement high-tech identification of athletes, officials and journalists follow concerns about terrorism.

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Facial recognition technology will be used at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to control the entry of athletes, officials and journalists at the games’ venues, according to Japan Times.

The decision to implement high-tech identification follows concerns about terrorism. The games’ organizers aim to bolster security and prevent those involved in the 2020 Games from borrowing official ID cards to access venues. Digital verification will make it difficult to use stolen or forged cards and likely reduce waiting times.

The technology won’t be used for spectators, who will be asked to show their tickets and submit to luggage checks just as in the previous Olympics, the sources, who declined to be named, said Saturday.

The organizing committee will distribute ID cards bearing facial photos for those involved in the games. The total is expected to reach around 300,000 to 400,000 and includes athletes and media representatives.

When they enter the venues via the competition entrances or media facilities, their faces will automatically be checked against registered photos for discrepancies.

Japan’s Justice Ministry deployed gates using facial recognition technology to screen passengers at Tokyo’s Haneda airport in October.

The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to be held from July 24 to Aug. 9, followed by the Paralympics from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6. Given Japan’s hot and humid summers, organizers are also studying how to get people into the venues quickly.

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