The World Olympians Association will run an OLY house at the Tokyo 2020 Games ©WOA

The World Olympians Association (WOA) has announced it will deliver its flagship hospitality house - OLY House - at Tokyo 2020. 

Building on the success of WOA's award-winning Olympians Reunion Centre at Rio 2016, OLY House will offer Olympians of all ages, nations and sports a dedicated venue to call their own during Games-time.

OLY House will welcome and host all Olympians, providing them with a home away from home and interesting experiences in the heart of the local Tokyo community, it is claimed. 

WOA promised the facility "will celebrate and honour the value Olympians continue to bring as ambassadors of the Olympic Movement throughout their lives".

"Centrally located in Tokyo, OLY House will be near to the Olympic Village and a number of the Olympic sports venues," they said in a statement. 

World Olympians Association President, Joël Bouzou, said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of OLY House, which will provide a dedicated space to honour and celebrate Olympians of all ages, nations and sports at Tokyo 2020.

"As vital ambassadors of the Games, it's important that Olympians get the recognition they deserve, not only for their sporting achievements and contribution to current and past Games, but also for their ongoing role in society.

The Olympians Reunion Centre established by the World Olympians Association during Rio 2016 was considered a big success and the experiment is set to be repeated at Tokyo 2020 ©WOA
The Olympians Reunion Centre established by the World Olympians Association during Rio 2016 was considered a big success and the experiment is set to be repeated at Tokyo 2020 ©WOA

"OLY House will be an event and hospitality space exclusively for Olympians at Tokyo 2020 and will be the centrepiece of our wider Games-time programme.

"We look forward to working on a fulfilling programme of events and experiences, and welcoming Olympians from all over the world to OLY House next year."

Judoka Haruka Tachimoto said: "As an Olympian from Tokyo, I am excited to welcome other Olympians of all different generations and countries to my home Games, to connect with and share experiences under one roof.

"It doesn’t matter what age you are, where you are from or what sport you competed in, we are all united as Olympians, and OLY House will provide the ideal space for us to come together."

Since the one year to go mark on July 24 this year, interest has been building for Tokyo 2020.

More than 1,400 Olympians have already registered interest in activities planned by WOA and that number will grow significantly as the Games approach.