"Tokyo 2020 Let's Go Go" Olympic and Paralympic Sports Experience
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee has launched the "Tokyo 2020 Let's 55 ~ Let's Go Go" project, providing venues where people can experience all 55 sports to be held at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The first event, "Let's Go Go with Mitsui Fudosan," was co-hosted with Games partner Mitsui Fudosan from August 16-19 at Koto Ward, Tokyo.
Other Games partners Meiji, Ajinomoto, All Nippon Airways, JXTG Energy, Pasona Group, Tokyo Gas, ASICS, and Nippon Life Insurance are also collaborating. Together with related organizations, they are setting up sports experience booths and stages featuring athlete performances both indoors and outdoors.
At the opening ceremony on the first day, Hirotsugu Murofushi, Sports Director of the Organizing Committee, stated, "We hope this project will bridge the gap between society and sports, encouraging more people to engage with sports. We also hope many children will enjoy it."
Appearing on stage were table tennis medalist Sayaka Hirano, para table tennis athlete Tsuyoshi Watanabe, and sports climbing athlete Miwa Oba.
Hirano expressed her hopes, saying, "With the addition of the mixed doubles event for table tennis at the 2020 Games, I believe Japan's gold medal is even closer." Watanabe commented, "First, I want to achieve good results at international competitions and maintain that form until the Tokyo Games." Oba stated, "I also want to focus on activities to make climbing known to more people."
Hirano and Oba then demonstrated para table tennis against Watanabe. Hirano, like Watanabe, competed while seated in a wheelchair. Though unfamiliar with the setup, he showed the pride of a medalist and put up a good fight. He also played against two elementary school students. Oba, who had no prior table tennis experience, played a handicap match without using a wheelchair. Watanabe praised her natural talent, and Oba, clearly enjoying herself, said, "It was a valuable experience to play with a top-level athlete."
Watanabe stated, "I hope this event helps people understand the incredible nature of para sports and athletes."
The Organizing Committee plans to continue certifying various sports experience events nationwide as Games Participation Programs, aiming to increase opportunities for sports experiences leading up to 2020.
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