Japan Marks Three Years to Tokyo Paralympics

(ATR) A scenic waterfront deck overlooking Tokyo Bay provided the backdrop to an event marking three years until the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games.

The event, co-sponsored by the Tokyo Organizing Committee, the Japanese Paralympic Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, began with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Paralympians performing the "Uchimizu", the traditional custom of sprinkling water that helped cool off the crowd of about 3,000 in the heat of the day.

High temperatures combined with high humidity is common for Tokyo summers, and the temperature for this event reached 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

"I worry about air temperature but we would like to prepare to welcome athletes or audience from all over the world [and keep them] cool by Uchimizu or a new technique," Koike said.

Tokyo 2020 organizers have told Around the Rings they are soliciting help from government officials, the IOC and sports federations to mitigate the weather conditions to keep athletes safe.

Officials also promised on Friday to spread the word about the Paralympics to ensure its success.

"It is important to raise the degree of recognition of the Paralympic Games," Olympics minister Shunichi Suzuki told the crowd. "It is a big chance to have handicapped people come in contact with non-handicapped people directly. It will change consciousness towards the handicapped."

A number of projects aimed at connecting people with the Games are being run, including the Tokyo 2020 Nationwide Participation Program and the Tokyo 2020 "Yoi Don!" ("Get Set") Nationwide Education Program.

The celebratory event showcased the ability of Paralympic athletes to put on amazing performances. Kento Kato, a leading player of the Japanese Football 5-a-side team, impressed by scoring an incredible goal in front of the crowd.

Before the demonstration, Kato urged the crowd to cheer after a goal is scored but asked for silence otherwise, explaining the sound of the ball or a player’s voice is very important in his sport. "We are blind, we play with sound, voice and feeling," he said.

"The Paralympians’ powerful performances allowed us to appreciate their amazing abilities," Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said.

"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."

Written and Reported by Hironori Hashimoto in Tokyo, edited by Gerard Farek

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