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"Go Japan! All-Out Teamwork Project" Launches The cheerleader? It's got to be that person.
On August 2, the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) held a press conference in Tokyo to announce the "Go Japan! All Together Project," aimed at fostering support for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Domestic sports organizations, Games partners, and JOC officials attended.
At the outset, Chairman Yasuhiro Yamashita stated, "This project was launched with the desire for supporters, athletes, and their families to unite and energize the Games. The name embodies our determination and wish to demonstrate Japan's vitality in recovering from the Great East Japan Earthquake and our gratitude for global support, while also establishing the significance of the Olympics as one of the Games' legacies." He further stated the project aims to be a continuous effort extending beyond the Tokyo Games to the 2022 Winter Games, concluding, "Your support will undoubtedly inspire our athletes. Let's unite and create the best Olympics ever. We ask for your cooperation!"
Director Shinichiro Otsuka read a statement and explained the project's activities.
The symbol mark for "All United" is a collection of origami, a traditional Japanese art form symbolizing "wrapping wishes." The four colors represent: "Red = Courage," "Blue = Cooperation," "Yellow = Glory," and "Green = Hope."
Specifically, the project will invite many people to fold origami (Unity ORIGAMI) and write their messages on them. The completed origami will be collected and consolidated over approximately one year, with plans to utilize it in various settings.
PR events will be held at schools and commercial facilities nationwide starting in September. A dedicated corner will be set up at the "Japan Olympic Museum" (a hub for the Olympic Movement), which opens on September 14th in Shinjuku, Tokyo. A special website ( https://danketsu.jp/ ) was also launched on the day of the announcement.
Former professional tennis player Shuzo Matsuoka was appointed as the project's official cheerleader. Chairman Yamashita presented him with the appointment letter and gifted him a "unity haori" jacket.
Matsuoka electrified the venue, stating, "Support is my way of life. I believe I have more talent for this than I did for tennis." He added, "I take pride in having listened to more athletes' thoughts than anyone else. For athletes feeling pressure at their home Games, I aim to offer support that transforms that pressure into positive energy. I firmly believe that when everyone's thoughts unite, it creates tremendous energy. Let's turn unity into a huge circle of support and make this a special Olympics. Go Japan!"
Guest athletes joined the stage: track and field medalist Shinji Takahira and wrestling medalist Saori Yoshida. Together with Matsuoka, they discussed the importance of "unity" from an athlete's perspective and shared their thoughts on the approaching Games just one year away.
The three, along with JOC Next Symbol Athletes Yuka Ueno (fencing) and Ayaka Nakayama (triathlon), challenged themselves to create unity ORIGAMI and shared their respective messages.
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