Five years before the Tokyo Paralympics opening Enjoying wheelchair basketball in Odaiba

On August 25, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games held the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Countdown Event "Everyone's Tokyo 2020 5 Years to Go!!" at DiverCity Tokyo in Koto Ward. Marking exactly five years before the opening of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the event aimed to showcase the appeal of the sports, featuring performances by wheelchair basketball athletes.

Yoshitaka Okazaki, Deputy Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Olympic and Paralympic Preparation Bureau, stated in his address: "The Paralympics is a major event featuring all 22 sports and approximately 4,000 participating athletes. Under the slogan 'NO LIMITS challenge,' the Metropolitan Government aims for the Games to be sold out. We want people to watch the competitions, experience them, and grow to love them."

At the venue, MC Ume energized the crowd with lively, upbeat commentary. Wheelchair basketball players Hiroaki Kozai, Hiroyuki Nagata, Shohei Harada, and Kiyoshi Fujisawa then took the court, splitting into two teams for a 2-on-2 showdown. These four top athletes delivered a fierce, competitive match that felt anything but a demonstration. Their swift movements and technical skill drew cheers from the audience.

The 1-on-1 match between professional basketball player Tomoya Nakamura and Kōsai drew attention as a rare contest between a pro and a wheelchair athlete. Nakamura appeared surprised by the speed of the wheelchair and the strength of the defense.

The special match featured a 4-on-4 game between the wheelchair athletes and a guest team. The guest team comprised former women's volleyball player Motoko Obayashi, boxing medalist Satoshi Shimizu, Nakamura, and former Japanese national wheelchair basketball team captain Shinji Negi. Eight wheelchairs racing around the venue created a spectacular sight, and the gallery's cheers grew increasingly passionate. The match ended with the guest team's victory, thanks to bold local rules and Obayashi's impressive performance!? Everyone's smiles were memorable.

The venue also offered programs for the general public to experience wheelchair free throws and zigzag driving, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the day.