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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Opens Exhibition Corner for Olympic and Paralympic Flags
On November 1st, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in collaboration with the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Japanese Olympic Committee, and the Japan Disabled Sports Association/Japan Paralympic Committee, opened a special corner within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. This space features an exhibition of the original Olympic and Paralympic flags and promotes the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The flags are owned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), respectively, and have been passed down between host cities.
The Olympic flag on display was created by the Seoul 1988 Organizing Committee and donated to the IOC. The Paralympic flag was created by the London 2012 Organizing Committee and donated to the IPC.
An opening ceremony was held the same day at the exhibition corner (2nd floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Main Building).
Governor Koike stated, "We are now opening the flags to the public starting today. We want to start anew with fresh resolve as we head toward 2020. We will proceed with preparations while sharing this sense of excitement with everyone."
She also expressed hope that the flag tour, where both flags will visit all 62 wards, cities, towns, and villages in Tokyo, would be seen by many people and help build momentum. (The flags touring are specially made for the tour.)
Hiroyuki Murofushi, Director of Sports for the Organizing Committee, said, "We've been waiting for today's opening. I want people all over Japan and the world to see it. I believe athletes will train even harder from now on. Let's look forward to four years from now."
Aki Taguchi, an Athlete Commissioner for the Organizing Committee, commented, "This is my first time seeing the original flag too. Seeing the flag passed on like this makes me happy, knowing the Paralympics are building their history. It's also encouraging for Paralympic athletes."
The corner also displays the actual torch used in the Rio Games' torch relay.
Related article:"Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Flag Tour" begins[October 14, 2016]
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