- Legacy Interviews Relayed by Athletes: “PLAY TRUE Torch Relay” -

The Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) released new interviews on two world-class athletes: Akito WATABE (Nordic Combined, Olympic medalist and 2017 World Cup champion) and Minato OIKE (BMX Freestyle Park, UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup 2018 champion). These interviews are available on the dedicated website as part of “PLAY TRUE Torch Relay” under the “PLAY TRUE 2020, Sport for Tomorrow (SFT)” project.

The latest two “PLAY TRUE Torch Relay” interviews are available as follows.

Akito WATABE (https://www.playtrue2020-sp4t.jp/torchrelay/interview/truth15/)

Minato OIKE (https://www.playtrue2020-sp4t.jp/torchrelay/interview/truth16/)

For more details, please visit:

(https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/201807256322-O1-6mAa8FCR.pdf)

“PLAY TRUE Torch Relay” is a legacy project in which a wide range of athletes of different countries, sports and generations take part to relay their “TRUTH” messages found in sports and in themselves. The interview series aims to encourage many people to discover the intrinsic values of sports and to realize how the truths found by athletes are related to their values.  

Following are the “TRUTH” messages by Akito WATABE and Minato OIKE:  

“Aspiring for True Strength with the Resilience and Flexibility of Water”--“The highest excellence is like water and changing the way that one is, smoothly, flexibly--according to any circumstance--and without resistance. I felt that this phrase expressed the ‘TRUTH in ME’.” -- Akito Watabe

“Broadening the Possibilities that Can Be Found beyond Just Having Fun”--“I will become someone that others admire, not just for my BMX freestyle riding but also for my lifestyle and as a person.” -- Minato Oike

As of now, 16 athletes with various backgrounds have relayed their “TRUTH” messages through “PLAY TRUE Torch Relay.” Among the athletes who relayed the Makimono (handscroll-paper) Torch include Koji Murofushi (Olympic gold medalist, hammer throw) and Chelsey Gotell (Para swimming, IPC Athletes’ Council Chairperson) with their “TRUTH” messages.

In conjunction with the interview, “Find my PLAY TRUE,” the quiz challenge page is also re-designed to launch (http://playtrue2020-sp4t.jp/quiz/).

JADA will develop and introduce a variety of programs and activities to contribute to creating a clean sports environment as well as establishing the integrity of sports and society as the hosting country of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.