Tokyo 2020 to Join Forces with Rugby World Cup 2019 and World Masters Games 2021 Kansai

Tokyo, 20 November 2017 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

(Tokyo 2020), the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee and the Organising Committee of the

Kansai World Masters Games 2021 today entered into a partnership agreement under which the three

organisations will exchange knowledge and expertise in order to maximise the benefits and impact of

their respective events.

The organisers will share their experiences preparing for and managing major sporting events, covering

areas such as marketing, public relations and volunteer recruitment and training programmes, aiming to

ensure the success of the three events.

Through the hosting of these events over three consecutive years, the organisers also aim to give a

boost to sporting and cultural activities in Japan, spur the economy and help build a society which

promotes the active engagement of all citizens in sport.

A signing ceremony to mark the inauguration of the agreement was held today, attended by Tokyo 2020

CEO Toshiro Muto, Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee CEO Akira Shimazu, and Hiroo

Kinoshita, Secretary General of the Organising Committee of the Kansai World Masters Games 2021.

Muto commented, "I am delighted that we three major sporting event organisers have concluded this

partnership agreement – it will allow us to maximise the opportunities provided by Japan’s hosting of

these world-class sporting events over three consecutive years. Through the sharing of knowledge and

through working closely together to ensure the success of all three events, we hope to leave a legacy for

future generations, such as greater public participation in sporting activities."

Added Shimazu, "Three major events will be held in Japan over a span of three years – the Rugby World

Cup in 2019, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and the World Masters Games in the

Kansai region in 2021. With so many sports events taking place in this three-year period, it will in

essence be the "golden years of sports." The Kansai World Masters Games 2021 Organising Committee

will be joining the collaboration agreement that our organisation has with the Tokyo 2020 Organising

Committee and we believe this will help further maximise the benefits for the respective events in areas

such as communications, promotional activities, volunteers, preparations for the tournament and

operations."

Commented Kinoshita, "I’m excited about the conclusion of this agreement between us and the Rugby

World Cup 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Games. This three-way cooperation will allow the World Masters

Games 2021 Kansai to inherit and develop the legacy bequeathed by the other two competitions, and we

will make every effort to make all three events a great success. We believe that the power of sport will

help energise Japan as a whole, and we hope to allow a sporting culture to develop across Japan."

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