Olympic swimming champion Ai Shibata, the Athens 2004 women's 800-metre freestyle gold medallist, has joined the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee to serve as one of the presenters at the XVIII Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in Moscow from 13 to 15 April. The Bid Committee will bring their most senior travelling delegation yet with the mission to bring sport to the heart of a spectacular and safe city.
Tsunekazu Takeda, President of both the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Tokyo 2020, is leading the delegation of distinguished members, including Shibata, Japan’s first-ever female swimming freestyle gold medallist.
Shibata said: "Although it has been several years since I announced my retirement as an athlete, my involvement with Tokyo 2020 has made me realise that my passion for sports and the Olympic Movement have not diminished a single bit. It will be thrilling to stand up at the ANOC meeting and tell everyone about our plan to inspire people around the world to take up sport and embrace the Olympic Values."
The delegation also comprises Tokyo 2020 CEO Masato Mizuno, Tokyo 2020 Sports Director and Chairperson of the Athletes Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia Yuko Arakida.
Takeda said: "It will be a true honour to represent Japan and the Tokyo 2020 Bid at the ANOC General Assembly. The Tokyo 2020 Bid enjoys strong support across all sections of Japanese sport – including athletes, national sport federations, sponsors and media – and of course the nation’s passionate sport fans. The JOC is proud of its strong, well-established standing within ANOC and looks forward to meeting with NOC friends from around the world. We are very eager to share Tokyo 2020’s plan to deliver a lasting legacy both for international sport and the city of Tokyo."
Mizuno added: "The ANOC General Assembly in Moscow will be a key milestone in the 2020 bidding journey. Meeting face-to-face with the NOCs will enable us to grasp exactly what they expect from our team, and to demonstrate what sets Tokyo 2020 apart. The Olympic Family’s insights will be invaluable as we prepare our Candidature File in hope of
being selected as a Candidate City by the IOC in May 2012."
The Tokyo 2020 delegation will arrive in Moscow prior to the ANOC General Assembly’s inauguration ceremony on 11 April. The General Assembly on 13 April will be followed by the Japanese delegation’s presentation on the Tokyo 2020 plan in front of the ANOC Assembly on 14 April.
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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