Two years before the Tokyo Olympics opening Countdown events and more held
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held "Everyone's Tokyo 2020: 2 Years to Go!" at Tokyo Skytree Town in Sumida Ward on July 24, two years before the opening of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The event featured a countdown ceremony and volunteer PR activities.
At the same location, Nippon Life Insurance, a Games Gold Partner, held the departure ceremony for its "Everyone's 2020 National Caravan" (co-hosted by the Organizing Committee).
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"Nippon Life Insurance Company's Everyone's 2020 National Caravan" Departure Ceremony Held at Skytree Town[July 26, 2018]
■ Countdown Ceremony
Attending the ceremony were: from the organizing committee, Honorary President Fujio Mitarai, President Yoshiro Mori, and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike; as guests, Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda and Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, host city for the 2028 Games. Each took the stage holding commemorative lanterns inscribed with messages for the Games.
Minister in Charge of the Games Shunichi Suzuki, who wrote "A Tokyo Games for Everyone," stated in his address, "For the Games' success, it is vital that every citizen feels personally invested in the event."
Mayor Garcetti stated, "We share the same dream as Tokyo. Even in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, we are holding countdown events for the 2020 Games. We wish Tokyo good luck and look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles in 2028."
Appearing on stage were judo gold medalist Tadahiro Nomura, swimmer Rikako Ikee, and gymnastics gold medalist Ryohei Kato. Approximately 100 local elementary school students also entered via a lantern parade. As the venue grew even more vibrant, a giant lantern was lit simultaneously with Tokyo Skytree being illuminated in special Olympic colors.
On the same day, special light-ups were also held at 14 locations including Tokyo Tower, Goryokaku Tower in Hakodate, Yokohama Marine Tower, Kyoto Tower, and Maruoka Castle in Fukui Prefecture.
The ceremony concluded with Olympians, athletes, and attendees celebrating the two-year countdown to the Games by dancing together to the "Tokyo Olympics Ondo."
■ Volunteer PR Event
Approximately 110,000 volunteers will be needed for the 2020 Games: around 80,000 "Games Volunteers" to assist with operations at venues and related facilities, and around 30,000 "City Volunteers" to guide tourists at airports, stations, and other locations. Recruitment is scheduled to begin in mid-September this year.
Taking the stage for a discussion were Olympian swimmer Aya Terakawa, Paralympic swimming medalist Takuro Yamada, comedian Yoshio Kojima, and a volunteer veteran.
Yamada, who will compete in his fifth Games at the Tokyo Paralympics, said, "Volunteers at every Games treated us with respect. It's also interesting how the vibe differs by country." Terakawa, citing the London Olympics as an example, remarked, "Volunteers everywhere were proactive, and their attitude of wanting to enjoy themselves was noticeable."
Kojima expressed hope for the younger generation, stating, "If more students participate, it will bring more vitality to the Games."
Volunteer veterans shared the appeal: "The feeling that we're supporting the Games is crucial," "Even with disabilities, you can work alongside friends helping each other," and "The joy of these once-in-a-lifetime encounters is irreplaceable." Kojima also called for volunteer participation with his signature joke: "This heat doesn't matter~!"
At Sky Tree Town, partner companies and related municipalities also set up PR booths, hosted sports experience corners, and held water sprinkling events, keeping the venue bustling with visitors all day. Furthermore, municipalities associated with the venues plan to hold events nationwide through August to build momentum for the 2020 Games, aiming for an all-Japan effort to generate excitement.
"Everyone's Tokyo 2020 2 Years to Go!" Official Website:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/special/2yearstogo/
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