POSTED: Thursday March 19th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tokyo 2016 unites sport and education with fourth academic partnership

Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU)

 
Tokyo, 19 March 2009 – As part of its commitment to delivering a lasting Olympic legacy, Tokyo 2016 today announced its latest strategic partnership with a Japanese institute of higher learning. The agreement with Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) will help to strengthen understanding of the role of sport in society, as well as explore the long-term benefits of the Bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the heart of Japan’s vibrant capital city.

The far-reaching collaboration focuses on the continuing development of Japan’s sports-related human resources and academic education capabilities as well as promotion of the Olympic Movement. Maximising global awareness of Tokyo 2016 – which enjoys the support of all levels of Japanese society and is the most compact and sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games plan in history – is another of the agreement’s key elements.

NSSU, was established in the late 19th Century and is today a private university with three campuses in the Greater Tokyo area. Hundreds of Olympians have honed their skills at the institution, including 30 Olympic Champions, around 70 other Olympic medallists, top coaches and other experts in sport-related fields. 
A number of NSSU’s illustrious connections joined Tokyo Governor and President of Tokyo 2016 Shintaro Ishihara, Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016 Dr Ichiro Kono and NSSU Dean
 
Takushiro Ochiai for the announcement. These were:
•  NSSU Professor Jyungo Morita, part of the gold medal winning volleyball team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
• NSSU Women’s Junior College Associate Professor Hiroshi Yamamoto, silver medallist in archery at Athens 2004.
• NSSU graduate Yuko Arimori, Tokyo 2016 Bid Ambassador and marathon silver medallist in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.  Arimori also won marathon bronze at Atlanta 1996.
• NSSU graduate Shinji Morisue, Olympic Champion in gymnastics at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
 
Governor Ishihara said:
“I think it’s great that NSSU, one of the world’s leading universities for sport science, has formed a partnership with Tokyo 2016. I’m sure that this agreement will lead to similar partnerships with other universities.

“NSSU has produced a significant number of Olympians. Because collective effort is a must when it comes to an Olympic Bid, we’re looking forward to benefiting from NSSU’s cooperation and working together to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Tokyo.”

Dean Ochiai said:
“NSSU is proud of its 114-year history and its achievements in physical education and sports. Notably, people associated with NSSU have accounted for one-quarter of all medals earned by Japanese athletes at the Olympic Games to date.

“One of our most important missions is to promote the Olympic Movement. As such, supporting Tokyo 2016’s bid activities is part of our social mission. I truly believe that we can bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Tokyo. The whole NSSU family—faculty, students and graduates—promises to support the bid.”

 Dr Kono said:
“The Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee is pleased to partner with Nippon Sport Science University, which has had a major impact on the Olympic Movement and aided its growth in Japan over many years. This kind of collaboration will help to secure Tokyo 2016’s sporting and social legacy and promote Olympic values among future leaders. We look forward to working with the members of NSSU’s distinguished faculty and student body as we seek to unite generations of people with sport and healthy living, and truly set the stage for heroes through Tokyo 2016.”

This is Tokyo 2016’s fourth academic collaboration with a Japanese university. NSSU joins Senshu University, Ryutsu Keizai University and the National Institute of Fitness and Sports as an official Bid partner.

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Keywords · Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) · Tokyo 2016 · Olympic bid

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