Football Expert Tokuaki Suzuki Transfers to Tokyo 2020 Team as Communications Director

Tokuaki Suzuki, former Competitions Director of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Japan Football Association (JFA), has joined Tokyo 2020, Japan’s bid committee to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as the fulltime Communications Director. Suzuki will support the Tokyo 2020 bid with his rich sport experience and strong administrative background, particularly in Japanese and Asian football, spanning nearly three decades of work with clubs and national teams.

Suzuki provides another strong element to an already impressive bid team. He has a pedigreed background in bidding on large international sporting events, such as the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™. Suzuki’s specific accomplishments during this unforgettable and highly successful event included providing the best possible environment for players and referees, and also smooth overall organisation of the tournament. Owing to his efforts, the tournament received high praise worldwide.

Suzuki said: "I am deeply honoured to be part of the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee. I have enjoyed a long and rewarding journey in the world of football, but I am extremely excited about this new challenge. The Olympic and Paralympic Games comprise the biggest international sporting events in the world, so I am dedicating myself 100% toward realising the dream of Tokyo hosting the 2020 Games. Tokyo 2020 will embody the shared values of the Olympic Movement and the people of Japan, for whom friendship, excellence and respect is a way of life."

His career highlights also include serving on the Organising Committee of the 1994 FIFA World Cup (USA) and 1998 FIFA World Cup (France), and contributing to the 2006 FIFA World Cup (Germany). Additionally, he helped organise the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup as a Tournament Director, which Japan won in Qatar last year.

Suzuki, who is fluent in Japanese and English and also speaks French, Spanish and Portuguese, began his passionate involvement with football as General Secretary of the Nissan Football Club Corp. (currently Yokohama F. Marinos). After nearly a decade, he joined the JFA and for the next 15 years strove to promote football in his home country.

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of both the Japanese Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020, said: "It is essential that our bid draws on the wisdom of people from diverse backgrounds. Suzuki’s passion and knowledge of sport are vital to what we represent. The appointment of another top sports administrator in our team reflects the level of world-class excellence which we will be providing for the Games. His presence immediately enhances Tokyo 2020’s bid prowess, especially in terms of explaining to the world why Japan’s vibrant capital is the ideal site for an inspiring Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020."

The Tokyo 2020 Communications Department is driven by experts in sports PR including Acting Communications Director Masa Takaya, who concurrently serves as the Communications Manager at the Japanese Olympic Committee, and Ayano Egami, Head of Online and Social Media and silver medallist in synchronised swimming in Sydney 2000.

For further inquiries Masa Takaya

Communications Manager, Japanese Olympic Committee

Acting Communications Director, Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee

Phone: +81 3 6279 0049 / Email: pressoffice@tokyo2020.jp

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