Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the first advisory meeting of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Tokyo.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“I am honored to be working as the Supreme Advisor.
I would like to express my gratitude at being able to hold the first advisory meeting today with so many of you in attendance.
One year has passed since the IOC Session in Buenos Aires selected Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In this time, an organizing committee has been set up under President Mori, and it has been moving steadily forward with the preparations.
With under six years until the opening of the games, we must further accelerate preparations. Rather than thinking that there are still six years left, I believe we should think that there are only six years left. There are still many tasks we must complete.
First, we must create the optimal environment for allowing athletes to perform their best. This goes beyond just the preparation of sports venues. We must also consider initiatives related to security, transport, universal access, and others.
In addition, as a festive event that involves the entire nation, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will give momentum to restoring the vitality of Japan. We will endeavor to ensure that the benefits of the Games are fully experienced throughout the country, by advancing measures such as the “Host City/Town Concept,” in which local government bodies in each region will participate.
In particular, this is an excellent opportunity to show the world how the areas that were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake have made such a magnificent recovery. By holding a sacred-flame relay in the affected prefectures and other such efforts, we will ensure that the Games will serve to support the recovery of the affected regions.
This advisory meeting comprises 175 people representing many different industries in Japan. This meeting truly symbolizes an all-Japan effort. I hope you will offer advice from a broad perspective in a wide range of fields.
“If we work together, our dreams will come true.” With the wisdom of so many advisors gathered here today, let us work together to make Tokyo 2020 a historic Olympic and Paralympic Games and ensure that it provides significant momentum to the rebirth of Japan.
Earlier today I met with the son of Abebe Bikila, who competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. And when I visited Ethiopia this year, as part of our ‘Sport for Tomorrow’ project, I offered the present of 100 pairs of running shoes.
I can still remember when I was ten years old and Abebe ran barefoot in the Rome Olympic Games. I thought it was amazing that he could run barefoot, so I remember being a little disappointed when he wore white shoes during the Tokyo Olympic Games because I expected him to run barefoot again. I hope that some of the boys and girls to whom we sent the 100 pairs of shoes through ‘Sport for Tomorrow’ emerge as athletes who compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
I hope that we can all work together to ensure that people around the world look back on the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a truly wonderful event. Thank you.”