"3 Years to Go to the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020" Event Showcases Tokyo's Ability to Deliver a Fully Inclusive Games

In conjunction with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese Paralympic Committee, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) today co-hosted a "3 Years to Go to the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020" event, to mark that it is exactly three years until the Opening Ceremony of those Games. The event was held at a scenic waterfront deck venue in Toyosu, overlooking Tokyo Bay.

As well as highlighting Tokyo 2020’s commitment to deliver a fully inclusive Games, the celebratory event demonstrated the ability of Paralympic athletes to put on amazing performances. Kento Kato, a leading player of the Japanese Football 5-a-side team, wowed everyone with his talent, scoring an incredible goal in front of the crowd. Hiroshi Miura, a two-time Paralympian in Powerlifting, was challenged by the event organizers to see how many times he could lift a 100 kilogram barbell. With the crowd cheering him on, he managed to raise it 12 times. Around 3,000 people stopped by to see the event.

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto commented, "Today, I feel the weight of expectation for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games from all those who attended the event. In addition, the Paralympians’ powerful performances allowed us to appreciate their amazing abilities."

He added, "Tokyo 2020’s mission is to provide a stage on which all athletes can deliver their personal best performance, and we are confident that everyone who watches or participates in the Paralympic Games will remember the Tokyo 2020 Games as the best in history. Beyond the Games themselves, our aim is to allow people of diverse abilities to live in harmony. And we believe that by improving accessibility for those with impairments, for the elderly and for those with young children, we can help create a fully inclusive community that provides all people with equal opportunity."

Commented Kato, "Because you can’t see, in this type of football you play by listening to the sounds and the voices, and with feeling. The attraction of this sport is that both people who can see and those who cannot see all communicate and work together towards a common goal."

Junichi Kawai, a five-time gold medalist commented, "Paralympic sport is all about finding out what’s possible. Use your imagination and be honest to your feelings to find out what each athlete is capable of doing. That way, you can enjoy watching the Paralympic Games at their best, and that is the best part of it. Please come and see the Games in three years. I hope all of the venues will be filled with fans."

Sir Philip Craven, President of the IPC, delivered a congratulatory message for the occasion by video. In his address, he commented, "I’m amazed at the preparations that have already taken place three years ahead of time, and the enthusiasm and positive energy coming out of Tokyo and from all the partners."

He continued, "I know that the Paralympic Movement is deep in the hearts of everybody in Tokyo, and that includes the Organizing Committee of Tokyo 2020, TMG and Governor Koike, all of the delivery partners and the commercial partners, and the Japan Paralympic Committee, who I know will ensure a great performance from the Japan Paralympic Team in 2020."

The level of interest in the Paralympic Games is already very high in Japan. However, Tokyo 2020 hopes to further raise public awareness of the need for improved accessibility, in both tangible and intangible ways, and of the need to eliminate psychological barriers. A number of projects aimed at connecting people with the Games is being run, including the Tokyo 2020 Nationwide Participation Program and the Tokyo 2020 "Yoi Don!" ("Get Set") Nationwide Education Program. The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Centre is additionally offering an IPC education program entitled "I’mPossible" which is targeting to make Para sports more available in schools across Japan.

For more information, please contact:

Tatsuo OGURA, tatsuo.ogura@tokyo2020.jp

Tristan LAVIER, tristan.lavier@tokyo2020.jp

Junichi SATO, junichi.sato@tokyo2020.jp

Kaho AKIYAMA, kaho.akiyama@tokyo2020.jp

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