Japan’s Festa Series Reaches 10,000 Attendees
May 28, 2013
The Olympic Day Festa, part of a series of Olympic events throughout the year by the Japanese Olympic Committee, has surpassed 10,000 attendees after the 37th Festa in Tohoku.
The event features a day of activites and games for children. It was launched to encourage and support those children who had been affected by the earthquake in March 2011.
Ai Shibata, Japan’s first femal freestyle gold medallist was in attendance and said: “Although I was hoping the children will be encouraged most, I was the one who was encouraged most. I believe in the power of sport and its ability to inspire children worldwide.
“It is extremely important for events such the Olympic Day Festa to take place, providing a platform for athletes and children to interact as often as possible. The children seemed to have a great time, so I was pleased to know that our efforts contributed to the healing process for these young stars.”
Tsunekazu Takeda, IOC Member and President of the JOC and Tokyo 2020, added: “In the last two years, we in Japan have rediscovered the significant role that athletes can play in society. Reaching over 10,000 participants with our Festa series and seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces makes me extremely proud of the Japanese sports community.
“It is our duty to support children by continuing to organise opportunities for children to engage in sport. By sharing the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, we hope to contribute to a positive, forward-looking recovery in Tohoku.”