Bridgestone to showcase innovations at Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO—Bridgestone, a worldwide Olympic and Paralympic partner, will showcase its mission of "serving society with superior quality" by providing products and services that will help enable safe, smooth and sustainable movement around Tokyo for the Olympic Games July 21-Aug. 8.

With its global headquarters in the host city, approximately 3,000 official vehicles will be kept in motion with Bridgestone's tire products and services, while its bicycle and maintenance service will be provided for athlete and staff transportation.

In addition, its seismic isolation technology will support earthquake readiness in two of the main Tokyo 2020 venues—the Tokyo Aquatics Centre and Ariake Arena.

Bridgestone is supporting safety and comfort in other Tokyo 2020 buildings through the light and highly-durable Polybutene Piping System currently installed in more than a dozen of Tokyo 2020's temporary venues and facilities.

In addition, the company continues to support and celebrate a diverse roster of more than 70 global athletes who serve as Team Bridgestone athlete ambassadors.

In the U.S., Bridgestone launched its Olympic and Paralympic campaign, which will be in heavy rotation throughout Tokyo 2020, celebrating what it means to be "Prepared to Perform No Matter What."

The new integrated marketing campaign features notable Olympians and Paralympians including Allyson Felix (track and field), Ryan Murphy (swimming), Missy Franklin Johnson (swimming, retired), Jessica Long (Para swimming) and Scout Bassett (Para track and field) among others from the company's roster of Team Bridgestone athlete ambassadors.

The campaign serves as the centerpiece of Bridgestone's third Games-time activation in North America and celebrates the company's role as the Official Tire of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It includes a series of five new television commercials, social media content, retail activation, and a new, interactive digital brand experience.

Bridgestone will provide a number of products for the Games.

The tires

• Cutting-edge air free tires for Toyota Walking Area BEVs (battery electric vehicles) that will be used at the main press center and tennis venues. These non-pneumatic tires feature a unique structure that can support the weight of the vehicle without air, eliminating the risk of a flat and the need for tires to be inflated.
• Specially-designed tires for the Toyota MIRAI at Tokyo 2020, which will be used as the lead cars in the marathon events. These fuel-efficient tires contribute to the quiet ride and long cruising ranges of the ultimate eco-cars which run on hydrogen.
• Next-generation Bridgestone Ecopia with "ologic" tires for Toyota LQ electric vehicles, which will also be used as lead cars in marathon events at Tokyo 2020. This innovative tire improves fuel efficiency through a taller, thinner profile than conventional tire designs.
• Fuel efficient, low-rolling resistance Bridgestone Ecopia tires for Toyota Accessible People Mover (APM) vehicles in the Olympic and Paralympic Villages.

Other innovations

Bridgestone will supply more than 800 non-motorized bicycles that will offer convenient mobility for Tokyo 2020 staff, volunteers and athletes. As a manufacturer of high-performing competitive cycles for more than 50 years, Bridgestone has also developed new track bicycles that will be used in cycling events by Team Japan at Tokyo 2020.

Bridgestone has supplied its cutting-edge seismic isolation bearings for two newly constructed permanent venues that will host competition during the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020—the Tokyo Aquatics Centre and Ariake Arena.

Seismic isolation bearings are flexible structural supports that isolate a structure from the ground to help reduce the spread of seismic shock and decrease the chance of damage in an earthquake. These bearings range in size between two feet and six feet in diameter.

The two new venues feature a roof seismic isolation structure. Installing the bearings beneath the roof instead of under the foundation of the venue helps lower the burden placed on the roof's structural support elements. This type of installation is often used in hall- or dome-shaped facilities with large, open spaces such as sporting arenas.

Bridgestone has been developing and manufacturing its seismic isolation technology in Japan since 1985. Today, the company's seismic isolation bearings are used in various facilities in Japan and around the world, including historic landmarks such as Tokyo Station and Los Angeles City Hall, as well as disaster preparedness facilities, government buildings, hospitals, commercial facilities, residential apartment complexes and more.