POSTED: Monday August 24th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tokyo 2016 inspired as world’s young people share hopes of a brighter future through sport
Young people send an inspiring declaration to the sport world at the 'World Kids’ Sports Summit' in Japan
Tokyo, 24 August 2009 – Young people from across the world have gathered for the ‘World Kids’ Sports Summit’ near Tokyo, as Japan’s 2016 Olympic Candidate City gave a timely reminder of its commitment to helping young people find a brighter future through sport.
Welcomed on their arrival by a message by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, more than 900 people participated in the Yokohama Summit. The event was created as a forum to promote friendship, peace and a happier future for all through sport.
The young people began conducting Internet conferences in June to collaborate on a unified message to share with the world at the end of the Summit. The result is the World Kids’ Sports Yokohama Declaration:
We on earth will confront environmental issues by respecting others and cooperating with friends through sport!
We will cultivate healthy bodies and minds through sport to lead vigorous lives!
We will develop friendship through sport by understanding each other’s culture to build a peaceful world!
We will continue our efforts and challenges in everything with a smile and confidence to convey the importance of efforts and challenges to all the people around the world through sport!
We will follow the rules and do our best in games to spread the spirit of fair play across the world!
Vice President of the IOC and Executive Board Member of Tokyo 2016 Chiharu Igaya and President of Japanese Olympic Committee and Vice President of Tokyo 2016 Tsunekazu Takeda, both of whom joined the event to provide support, were impressed how the forward-looking declaration closely matches Tokyo 2016’s commitment to inspire people, including the youth of the world, to embrace sport and the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect.
With the help of the IOC and the International Triathlon Union (ITU), the youngsters will spread their declaration internationally, encouraging others to follow the values of sport, and specifically contribute to supporting the environment, acting for international peace and helping the world’s young people to engage with sport.
Dr Ichiro Kono, Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016, declared:
“It is an inspiration to see young people from around the world take the initiative to encourage positive action through sport. That is certainly key to Tokyo’s Bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where one of our clear commitments is to see a sustained increase in the numbers of people enjoying sport globally, in partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
“If we win the right to host the 2016 Games, we will connect youth worldwide with sport through the most comprehensive youth outreach programme ever seen.
“At the same time, by setting the best possible stage for athletes they will become global heroes in Tokyo, and a source of inspiration for young athletes and sports enthusiasts everywhere.
“We have seen their impact in action. Since the start of our Bid campaign we have held many sports events for young people with Olympians and Paralympians, including our ‘Olympics for All’ roadshow, which has already visited more than 50 locations throughout Japan and will be taken around the world.”
Tokyo 2016’s approach to reaching young audiences is unique, and makes best use of Japan’s iconic youth culture. For example, sporting comics and animations, known respectively as manga and anime, are being used to encourage young people to follow the example of their sporting heroes.
Japan’s cutting edge technology is also a powerful way to capture the attention. Aside from plans for high-tech portable devices, since July, more than two million people have visited the world’s largest robot, standing 18m high in Shiokaze Park, the proposed venue to host the beach volleyball competitions in 2016, in Tokyo to promote one of the city’s 2016 ‘Green Games’ sites.
More than 250 young people also took part in the 2009 World Kids’ Triathlon on Sunday 23 August. The first of its kind, the event consisted of a 150m swimming, 10km biking and 2km running for 10-15 year-olds and 100m swimming, 5km biking and 1km running for 6-9 year-olds.
The Summit was followed by the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series Yokohama, which took place this past weekend. Large numbers of passionate Japanese sport fans showed up to cheer world-class triathletes including Beijing 2008 Olympic Triathlon champion Jan Frodeno of Germany, who won the elite men’s race.
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Keywords · Tokyo 2016 · 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series Yokohama · 'World Kids’ Sports Summit' · Tsunekazu Takeda · Jacques Rogge · Chiharu Igaya
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