Tokyo 2020: a look to the future

“It would be fantastic if people in the future to look back and see that the Tokyo 2020 Games brought changes across Japan, and that Japanese children view the performances of Paralympians with the same awe as Olympians.”

In less than six years’ time, the Paralympic Games will return to Tokyo, Japan, the city that hosted the Paralympics 50 years ago.

Yoshiro Mori, President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, wants the Tokyo Paralympics to be a vehicle for change.

“I think the greatest legacy we can leave will be if people with disabilities truly feel that the Tokyo 2020 Games served as a catalyst to change Tokyo and the whole of Japan for the better,” said Mori.

“It would be fantastic if people in the future to look back and see that the Tokyo 2020 Games brought changes across Japan, and that Japanese children view the performances of Paralympians with the same awe as Olympians,” Mori added.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has similar expectations for 2020.

“I hope that Tokyo 2020 will leave a legacy of great achievement in the history of the Paralympics and that through these Games, the value of sport will be shared throughout the world.

“Japan, together with the IPC and the Paralympic family will give its all to ensure a successful and highly enjoyable Games.”

From 25 August - 6 September 2020, more than 4,350 athletes from around the world will meet in Tokyo, which will be the first city to host both Olympic and Paralympic Games for the second time.

“By becoming the first ever city to have hosted both Games twice, I hope that the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics will become known for further raising the profile of and enhancing Paralympic sports and sports for people with disabilities around the world,” said Mori.

In order to achieve this, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee is committed to working closely with the International Paralympic Committee and the Japanese Paralympic Committee and set up a “Multi-Party Leaders Meeting” including representatives of the Japanese Paralympic Committee.

“The Organising Committee views the Multi-Party Leaders' Meeting (Olympic Board) as vitally important. This will allow us to work together as a united team for the successful delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” said Mori.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be staged in the heart of the city, with 95 per cent of the venues are located within 8km of the Paralympic Village.

The centrepiece of the venues will be the new national stadium, which will accommodate 80,000 spectators and will stage the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, together with the track and field competition.

Up to 23 Paralympic sports will be competed in Tokyo in 2020, 16 of them having recently been confirmed by the IPC Governing Board.