Students to produce wooden clubs for Tokyo 2020

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) today announced that it has concluded an agreement with the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education whereby students at a public high school in Tokyo will create the wooden clubs that will be used in the Para athletics club throw events at Tokyo 2020.

This collaboration forms part of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic educational programme, and aims to promote further understanding of Paralympic sports in schools across Japan.

There are no manufacturers of wooden clubs in Japan. Tokyo 2020 therefore decided to take the opportunity to incorporate this initiative into its Paralympic education programme.

Pupils at Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School, a technical facility focusing on the teaching of professional crafts and design, will produce around 20 wooden clubs.

Pupils there have previously produced wooden ramps used in the Paralympic sport of boccia.

Following the conclusion of today’s agreement, production of the clubs will start in September this year with delivery to Tokyo 2020 scheduled for March 2020.

The clubs will be tested during the Tokyo 2020 test events next May and then deployed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic F32 and F51 club throw events.

“We are pleased that students from a public high school in Tokyo will be producing competition equipment that will be used by para athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games," Tokyo 2020 Sports Director Koji Murofushi said.

"I believe that this will be a valuable and unforgettable experience for the students and will undoubtedly inspire the athletes. I am really looking forward to seeing athletes using these clubs and perhaps reflecting on the efforts and dedication of the students who created them,” Murofushi added.

About club throw

Club throw is an event for athletes with significant hand impairments and who compete seated. The

event requires them to throw a wooden club resembling a bowling pin weighing a minimum of 397g with

a length of 350mm to 390mm.

There are no rules governing throwing style; facing away from the target zone and throwing from behind is also acceptable.