Tokyo Ready for Asian Youth Para Games

07 Sep 2009 By IPC

The Tokyo 2009 Asian Youth Para Games are starting this week in the capital of Japan, bringing in athletes from all over the world.

Taking place from 11-13 September, the event will most assuredly bring in spectators from all walks of life. A total of six different Paralympic sports will be played including Athletics, Boccia, Goalball, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Tennis. Each sport will have a competition everyday during the event.

Organized by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and the Tokyo 2009 Asian Youth Para Games Organizing Committee (TAYPOC), a total of about 700 athletes and 300 staff members are scheduled to take part in the event. The age range of the athletes is between 14-19 years old. Venues to be used include the Kasumigaoka National Stadium, Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Centre and the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The competition venues are the sites which had been used in various international sporting events in the past.

At a press meeting held earlier this summer, Organizing Committee Chairperson Isao Hokugo said that all the Asian Paralympic member countries have been showing a great deal of interest. He added that the committee will strive to make this a successful competition in order to see that sports for athletes with a disability prosper in the Asian region.

The Tokyo 2009 Asian Youth Para Games are an international sports event that will have the participation of young people with a disability from all over Asia. The athletes will also have their sights on the London 2012 Paralympic Games, as they use this event as a preparation.