PyeongChang 2018: Japan team honoured by royalty

“I hope we can ride that momentum when we compete at the Paralympics. At PyeongChang, I hope we can show the attractions of Paralympic sports, and motivate people with disabilities to play sports."

The Japanese delegation that will take part in the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was officially presented in an event in Tokyo on Monday (26 February) with the presences of the Prince of Japan Akishino Fumihito and his wife, Princess Kiko.

Para alpine skier Momoka Muraoka, who will be the flag-bearer in the Opening Ceremony, received the Japanese flag from the President of NPC Japan Mitsunori Torihara and Paralympic champion Kuniko Obinata, who will be Japan’s Chef de Mission in PyeongChang.

PyeongChang 2018 will be the first Winter Paralympics in Asia since Japan hosted the 1998 Games in Nagano. The aim of the Japanese delegation in Korea is to win more than the six medals from Sochi 2014 when the country finished seventh in the medal standings.

“It’s not an easy goal. But we’ll be able to meet our target if athletes and members of the delegation get the best out of ourselves,” said Obinata, according to Kyodo News.

“If we can compete well in PyeongChang and pass the torch to the athletes competing in the 2020 Summer Games, we can raise recognition of the sports and contribute to making our society a better place for everyone to live in,” said Obinata, who won Japan’s first Paralympic Games in Para alpine skiing in Nagano 1998.

The Japanese medallists in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games sent a video message to the Paralympic delegation. Japan had its most successful Winter Olympics in number of medals in Korea and hopes to replicate that in the Paralympic Games.

“I hope we can ride that momentum when we compete at the Paralympics. At PyeongChang, I hope we can show the attractions of Paralympic sports, and motivate people with disabilities to play sports," said Para ice hockey national team captain Satoru Sodu.

The event in Tokyo also counted with the presences of the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee Yoshiro Mori, the minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Yoshimasa Hayashi, and the minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Shunichi Suzuki.

A total of 38 Japanese athletes will compete in five sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey and Para snowboard.

The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will take place between 9-18 March. Tickets can be purchased here.