Asian Paralympic Committee hold Executive Board meeting in Tokyo 2020 and approve 2018 Asia Para Games logo.

The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) held their 16th Executive Board (EB) meeting in Tokyo last week (5th, 6th July) where they approved some key decisions on the Indonesian 2018 Asia Para Games and were impressed with the plans for Tokyo 2020.

Mr Suzuki, Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency and

Mr Torihara, Chair of Japanese Paralympic Committee attended the opening of the meeting to welcome the APC to Tokyo. In a short speech Mr Suzuki outlined the importance of the 2018 Asian Para Games in providing a strong link to Tokyo 2020 and helping to promote and diffuse the spirit of the Paralympic Games in the region.

APC President Mr. Majid Rashed thanked Mr Suzuki and the Japan Paralympic Committee for hosting the Board. In his speech he highlighted the integral role Japan had played in the development of the Paralympic movement having hosted the second Paralympic Games in 1964. Then only one country was from the Asian region and whilst there will be many more at Tokyo 2020, Rashed stated the desire to use the next 3 Asia based Games to grow the movement in Asia further.

The meeting then heard updates on the Dubai 2017 Asian Youth Para Games and the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games. For the latter, Mr. Raja Sapta Oktohari, Chair of the Organising Committee attended together with Mr Gatot S Dewa Broto, Secretary to the Minister for Youth and Sports. Together they outlined the progress that had been made on on the project, including collaboration with the Asian Games Organising Committee and specifically venue accessibility which had been raised at the last Co-Com meeting in May. The meeting also saw and approved the logo design for the Games which reflects the diversity of the Games and discussed key dates in the lead up to the Games.

In other business the EB heard updates from various the sub-regions and sub-committees including plans from the new Chair of the Sports and Development Committee Ms Lesley Fung who is proposing a benchmarking survey on Para-Sports participation and development in Asia. To conclude the two days of meetings, following presentations from both the Tokyo 2020 organising committee on the upcoming Games and the Japan Paralympic Committee on their strategy and activities, the delegates went on a tour of the Tokyo 2020 venues. Here they visited the Yoyogi Stadium, venue for Wheelchair Rugby; the National Gymnasium, venue for Table Tennis; and the site of the New National Stadium where the ceremonies and athletics will occur.

Commenting at the conclusion of the two days, Rashed stated: "This has been an excellent and productive two days of meetings. Thanks to our colleagues at the Japan Paralympic Committee who have made us so welcome. We have been impressed and inspired by what we’ve seen and heard about Tokyo 2020 and are more determined than ever that our whole region benefits from them."

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