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Tokyo 2020 Everyone's Escort Kids Project Bringing children to the stage of dreams!
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee announced on January 22 that it will implement the "Tokyo 2020 Everyone's Escort Kids Project" (co-sponsored by P&G, Asahi Beer, ASICS, Mitsui Fudosan, and Meiji) during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Taking advantage of the Games, the project aims to spark interest in sports among children who will shape the future and provide an opportunity for children already involved in sports to stand alongside athletes on the dream stage, further boosting their motivation.
Escort Kids will perform roles such as "Escort Kids" who hold hands with athletes during the athletes' entrance or lead the way at the front, "Ball Delivery Kids" who deliver the game ball to athletes, and "Flag Bearers" who carry the national flag during the entrance.
The project plans to involve approximately 3,000 participants across 11 sports. This represents an unprecedented number of children participating compared to past Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Eligibility requires being an elementary school student during the Games; for handball (flag bearers), high school students are eligible.
The participating sports include nine Olympic events such as soccer (Escort Kids: 1,276 participants) and hockey (Escort Kids: 512 participants), plus two Paralympic events: goalball (Escort Kids: 540 participants) and 5-a-side soccer (Escort Kids: 216 participants), totaling 11 sports.
Participants will be recruited through project co-organizers' partner companies, youth sports clubs, municipalities hosting competition venues, and the three prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Recruitment will begin periodically through each organizing body. Participants may be selected through recommendation rather than open application.
Participants will receive original uniforms and opportunities to watch the matches before and after their escort duties.
Official "Escort Kids" Website:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/get-involved/kids-supporters/
Separately from this project, the Organizing Committee will implement "Children's Participation in the Games."
The goal is to provide high school students who regularly participate in sports with opportunities to feel closer to their respective disciplines. For a total of 17 sports (15 Olympic and 2 Paralympic), roles such as ball persons, moppers (responsible for cleaning wet or soiled courts), and operational support will be assigned. Through domestic sports federations, high school athletic associations, and other related organizations, 1,500 to 2,000 high school students with experience in the respective sports will be selected.
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