Tokyo 2020 Mascot Design Contest Now Open! Elementary School Students Nationwide Will Choose the Winner
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games held a ceremony to launch the Tokyo 2020 mascot design contest at Kuramae Elementary School in Taito Ward, Tokyo, on August 1.
The submission period for design proposals runs from that day until noon on August 14. A judging panel will select approximately 3-4 designs as final candidates. Subsequently, from December 2017 to January 2018, class-level voting will be conducted at elementary schools nationwide to determine the winning design.
Because elementary school student participation is crucial, approximately 200 students from Kuramae Elementary School attended the event.
Ryohei Miyata, Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and chair of the mascot selection committee, stated, "The Games' mascot will be decided through everyone's consultation. We want to entrust this important task to elementary school students nationwide. Adults aren't necessarily the ones who can choose the best design." He then struck a gong at noon to mark the start of the call for entries. A fifth-grade student participating in the event said, "We want to make it more approachable than ever before."
The mascot, which will become the "face of the Games," will appear at various events, welcome athletes and visitors from around the world, and convey the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Key judging criteria include "expressions that reflect the 2020 Games' policies," along with being beloved by many and embodying the essence of Tokyo and Japan.
Eligibility requires Japanese nationality and being 18 years of age or older. However, those under 18 can apply as part of a group with a representative who meets the requirements; experience and awards are not considered. Results are scheduled to be announced around March next year on the official website and other channels. The winner will receive a prize of 1 million yen and an invitation to the opening ceremony.
Former professional tennis player and Olympian Ai Sugiyama, along with Paralympic shooter Aki Taguchi, visited the venue. They shared stories about the appeal of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and anecdotes related to the Games' mascots with the children. Cheerleaders and a dance team also performed, adding to the excitement of the ceremony.
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