A press conference was held on June 2, 2015, to announce the launch of The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center, which will support the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The Tokyo 2020 Games will never be a success without the success of the Paralympic. The Nippon Foundation will donate 10 billion Japanese yen to promote the Paralympic Movement in supporting the Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC), National para-sport Federations (NFs) and para-athletes.

The Support Center will be chaired by Yasushi Yamawaki, President of JPC. Yoshiro Mori, President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, has agreed to serve as Supreme Advisor to the Support Center, and Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and Yoichi Masuzoe, Governor of Tokyo have been named as Special Advisors. In addition, Mitsunori Torihara, Chairman of JPC, serves as a Support Center Counselor. The Support Center will bring together a wide range of advisors, presenting an All-Japan team for hosting a successful Paralympics.

Sports for athletes with impairments were previously governed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, but in 2014, primary jurisdiction was transferred to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), alongside general sports, with both the JPC and JOC receiving funds from MEXT. Reinforcement of the organizational base of NFs, which enables NFs to receive funds for their activities, is an urgent issue to be dealt with. The Support Center will supply offices to NFs at the Support Center and also provide various services in supporting management and governance of NFs.

The Support Center will also endeavor to create an environment where para-athletes can concentrate on their sports, train qualified volunteers for Paralympics, raise public awareness of Paralympics, and conduct academic research, and will also consider supporting para-sports in developing countries.

At the press conference, which was attended by President Mori, MEXT Minister Hakubun Shimomura, and Governor Masuzoe, Mr. Yamawaki explained the Support Center's planned activities.

The Support Center will contribute to the promotion of the Paralympic Movement, which is connected to the success of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics will change social perceptions, remove barriers in people's minds towards impairment and will be a gateway to an equitable, comfortable and inclusive society.

For more information: http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/en/what/projects/paralympic/

Source: Nippon Foundation