What should we leave behind in three years for a symbiotic society?

What to Leave Behind Over Three Years

An Opportunity to Consider Communication in an Inclusive Society

The Tokyo 2020 Games are also expected to foster diversity and inclusion. What is needed to achieve this? Kuniko Ohinata, a Winter Paralympic gold medalist and director of the Japan Disabled Sports Association, shares her insights.

Signaling when you want to yield

Evolution in the soft aspects

With growing awareness of diversity and inclusion, the timing of these consecutive international events is excellent. Over these three years, people of different nationalities, ages, and genders will come to Japan. They will interact through the shared stage of "sports." This is crucial; it won't work unless we mutually recognize each other's diversity. Having diverse people collaborate on the same stage is a perfect opportunity.

I particularly hope for progress in the soft aspects. Beyond the hardware like barrier-free facilities, I hope it becomes an opportunity to consider the literacy and manners of the people using them, and communication around "how to give way to each other."

For example, while multi-functional restrooms are increasing, they lose meaning if everyone just uses them as "just another restroom option." How can we ensure priority for those who can only use these specific facilities? Or how should someone who wants to yield their place signal that intention? Someone needs to lead that communication. The same applies to interactions with foreign visitors.

Dai-Nichi Co., Ltd. introduces the appeal and highlights of the sport alongside para table tennis player Kentaro Doi (D2C Inc.) (August 20, at "Para-Ken!", hosted by Dentsu Para Initiative)

First, consider what you want to leave behind

Work backward from three years

What matters is sharing success stories and lessons learned to spread the impact. Having three consecutive years of international competitions allows us to keep trying. It would be great to accumulate both successes and failures. This should create various ripple effects for both companies and local governments.

I believe legacy isn't about what "remains" as a result, but rather the premise of "leaving something behind." First, consider what to leave behind, then plan backwards from there. How can we leave behind elements promoting diversity through sports during these three years? Isn't it necessary to approach this with that mindset?

Scenes from the "Tokyo 2020 Let's 55 ~Let's Go Go~ with Sumida Paralympic One Year Before Special" held on August 24 at Sumida City General Gymnasium and Kinshi Park in Tokyo. Visitors deepened their understanding of the sports by experiencing 15 Paralympic sports and 15 events.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Mini Info

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020. A record 33 sports and 339 events are scheduled. Among these, 5 sports and 18 events – baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing – are new additions for these Games.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be held from August 25 to September 6, 2020. 540 events across 22 sports are scheduled, with badminton and taekwondo being new additions. As the number of athletes grows and the level of competition rises with each Games, we look forward to the performance of Japanese athletes.

Venues are divided into two zones: the "Heritage Zone," carrying on the legacy of the 1964 Tokyo Games, and the "Tokyo Bay Zone," symbolizing the city's future. The Tokyo Olympics will use 42 venues, while the Tokyo Paralympics will use 21. Additionally, some events will be held outside the Kanto region, in locations such as Hokkaido, Miyagi, and Fukushima. Our newspaper's serial feature, "Olympic & Paralympic Venue Pilgrimage," will introduce these venues sequentially, so please refer to it.