Japan Olympic team holds inaugural ceremony

Jul 07, 2021 | News On Japan

Jul 07, 2021 (NHK) - Japan has officially inaugurated its team of athletes for the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to open on July 23.

A ceremony was held in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon.

A record 582 athletes will represent Japan at the Tokyo Games. But due to coronavirus restrictions, the number of attendees at the ceremony was limited, with most participating online.

Those present included sprinter Yamagata Ryota who is the captain of Team Japan, and table tennis player Ishikawa Kasumi, who serves as the vice-captain. Also taking part was wrestler Susaki Yui, who will bear the national flag.

Japanese Olympic Committee President Yamashita Yasuhiro and head of the Japanese delegation Fukui Tsuyoshi also attended.

During the ceremony, the athletes were introduced one by one.

Crown Prince Akishino offered words of encouragement to the athletes by means of a video link.

Speaking for the team, Captain Yamagata said he has given much thought to the role of participants in the Games against a backdrop in which questions have been raised about holding the Olympics amid a pandemic. He stressed the necessity for the athletes to do their best in the Games.

Yamagata pledged to exert all his strength as a member of Team Japan, with a belief in the power of sports.

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