Day 1

Abstract

Japan has a long history of involvement with the Olympic and sporting movements. It has made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical education. However, until recently few organizations, institutions and individuals were involved in Japan in the field of the global sport movement, as well as in the Olympic and Paralympic movements. The Tokyo 1964 Olympics introduced new Japan to the world and significantly contributed to Japan’s post-war transformation. This time, after more than fifty years, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games what kind of message Japan is going to deliver to the world? Sport for Tomorrow (SFT) Programme is an initiative and commitment of the Japanese government for international contribution through sport targeting ‘more than 10 million people in more than 100 countries, mainly developing nations’ from 2014 to 2020. This programme was announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the Tokyo 2020 bid at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires in September 2013. Through this programme, Japan aims: