POSTED: September 16th 2009
NewsUpdate
Japanese Olympian hopes to reignite Tokyo Games fire
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT / Sports Features Communications
TOKYO: Japanese gold medal hammer thrower Koji Murofushi has been keeping the Olympic legacy alive at the National Stadium by polishing the Olympic cauldron. The Olympian also hopes to see the Games awarded back to Tokyo and the fire ablaze again in this Olympic cauldron.
Last year he learned that the son of Mannosuke Suzuki, creator of the 1964 cauldron, had passed away so he volunteered to take up the cause. The late son of the creator polished the cauldron annually to maintain his father’s contribution to the 1964 Games.
Murofushi said: “I was deeply moved by the story of a family carrying the Olympic legacy from generation to generation. So I decided to offer my time to keep the tradition alive. Tokyo has been profoundly shaped by the Olympic Games, so it will be an honour to have a direct role in keeping the shine on the cauldron as well as the Olympic legacy.”
A supporter of the Tokyo 2016 bid he added: “The National Stadium is still used on a daily basis, thanks to the dedicated preservation of this and other cherished venues by the city of Tokyo, backed by the enthusiastic support of sport fans such as the Suzuki family.
“I am so proud to assume the role of maintaining this Olympic legacy, as I know others will do after me.”
One of the key elements of the Tokyo 2016 plan is to reutilize many of the 1964 venues celebrating the Japanese Olympic legacy and to keep the bid plan more sustainable.
Bid ceo Dr Ichiro Kono said: “Koji Murofushi’s inspiring action shows how athletes – the lifeblood of the Olympic movement – make such special contributions to the Olympic legacy. A century after Japan joined the Olympic Movement in 1909, the year 2009 is the perfect time for Tokyo to become a model Olympic city and propel the Olympic Movement on a new 100-year journey.
“The Japanese have a love affair with the Olympic Games. With inspiring heroes such as Murofushi on our side, we will use our technically unsurpassed and financially guaranteed Games plan to deliver on our promise of a new 100-year legacy for our city, our nation and indeed the entire world.
"Tokyo 2016 will reprise many iconic Tokyo 1964 venues as well as create brand-new and much-needed new facilities, creating an enduring legacy that will enable sport to flourish for generations to come in the heart of our dynamic metropolis of 35 million people.”
Picture (above right): Koji Murofushi and friends hoping to polish the cauldron for 2016 /Tokyo 2016
Keywords · Koji Murofushi · hammer throw · Athens 2004 · Tokyo 2016 · Olympic bids
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