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The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday launched the Bureau of Sports, marking the first Japanese local government initiative dedicated exclusively to the promotion of sports. The bureau will comprehensively promote sports for all age groups and abilities throughout Tokyo, and work to deepen Tokyo’s ties with the international sporting community.
Under the concept of “Sports for All,” the bureau will strive to realize a society where all residents are able to enjoy sports as a lifelong activity anytime, anywhere, and in ways that match their ages, skills, interests and objectives. Specifically, the bureau aims to increase the sporting population of Tokyo to over 60% by 2016, from under 40% currently.
The bureau integrates existing municipal divisions responsible for sporting events in Tokyo including the annual Tokyo Marathon and the National Sports Festival scheduled for 2013. The bureau will promote the hosting of more international sports events, while strengthening Tokyo’s ties with international sporting federations built through Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"I am deeply impressed by the ability of sports to entertain people and inspire dreams and aspirations. The recent 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa has amply demonstrated this power by rousing the hopes and passions of people throughout the African continent, and indeed around the world,” said Kenichi Kasai, the inaugural director general of the Bureau of Sports. “The performance of the Japanese team has also had a positive impact and has further motivated Japanese people to take an interest in sports and even take up sporting activities for themselves. Our aim is to promote the various benefits and the great enjoyment of taking part in sporting activities, and invigorate Tokyo and the whole of Japan through the power of sports.”
As a direct result of its bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo has reaped many rewards. Sports have gained an increasingly widespread popularity among Tokyo residents, and the metropolitan government plans to deepen its relationship with the sporting community.
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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paulinusa
The whole article is filled with assumptions. It sounds as if someone in the "Bureau of Sports"( I still can't figure out what that is ) invented all this stuff.
plasticmonkey
Excuse me, but is this journalism? How can this be reported as though it were undisputed fact?
Beelzebub
Will I get a subsidy for watching football on the telly while sipping a cold Sapporo nama?
paulinusa
I think the only sports that 40% of Tokyoites might participate in is drinking and shopping( and those can be marathon sports )
some14some
How do you measure that?
a very tough question, may be through weekly marathons?
paulinusa
And what does it mean "to increase the sporting population of Tokyo to over 60% by 2016, from under 40% currently." What kind of sports does the 40% "sporting population" participate in? How do you measure that?
some14some
Bureau of Sports will have an account with ShinGinko - will help or blame each other, huge source of income for amakudari and huge tax burden for the citizens.
paulinusa
I don't understand the "Bureau of Sports"'s mandate. They are promoting things like the Tokyo Marathon and 2016 Olympic Games,which are money making/tourism events, while at the same time trying to encourage "Sports for All" for Tokyo residents. Both these goals are good, but it seems to me like they shouldn't be under one roof. Maybe it's just me.
nath
how about this for a sport initiative: 1) grow some grass on your fields 2) let kids use ice rinks and swimming pools to practice 3) put up a basketball hoop somewhere outside for free so kids can play
TuxedoMichael
But didn't Tokyo LOSE the '16 Olympics bid?
TSRnow
paulinusa, what part of the article did you not understand?
It's simply saying that Tokyo wants another go at the bid for hosting the Olympics. You'll soon see their campaigns in every sports event using taxpayer's money.
paulinusa
Does anyone understand this article? Please interpret for me.