Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > August 2016 > Courtesy Call from Japanese Athletes in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016 Rio de Janeiro)
The Prime Minister in Action
Courtesy Call from Japanese Athletes in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016 Rio de Janeiro)
August 24, 2016
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (3)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (4)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (5)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (6)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (7)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (8)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (9)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (10)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (11)
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from Japanese athletes who took part in the XXXI Olympiad (2016 Rio de Janeiro), at the Prime Minister's Office.
At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, held over 17 days from August 5-21, Japanese athletes won a total of 41 medals, including 12 gold medals.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“Welcome back to Japan. I would like to offer you all my heartfelt congratulations. I believe that this room is truly shining today, more than it ever has before, because of your brilliance.
At the time of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics I was ten years old, and even now I cannot forget the performance of the Japanese athletes in those Olympic Games. I felt that I too would like to take part in the Olympics. The other day I was able to stand in the Olympic Stadium in the form of Super Mario, although in truth I would rather my appearance had been as an athlete. First, I would like to offer my heartfelt praise to you all for your wonderful efforts that will remain etched in our memory forever.
We felt truly moved by your dedicated stance of never giving up, right until the very end, and your spirit of welcoming the challenges you faced on the grand stage of the Olympics, after long and tough repeated practice and efforts. I am sure that many Japanese children were glued to the television, just as I was in 1964 as a ten-year-old, and that they imagined themselves performing in your place, giving them hopes and dreams. Moreover, I am sure you provided your fellow athletes with new goals, and gave them the courage to aim for them.
This is not only true for athletes. I feel certain that you also provided not only people in disaster-affected areas, but many other Japanese people who are facing various difficult circumstances in life as well, with the strength to try again. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your achievements.
In only four years’ time, it will be our turn to inspire the world. In the same way that the people of Brazil warmly welcomed the Japanese athletes in Rio, we will warmly welcome athletes and people from all over the world with a spirit of hospitality.
The government will exert its best efforts to create an environment in which athletes will be able to perform in top condition. I look forward to your even greater achievements as you all aim to succeed in the challenge of appearing again in the Tokyo Olympic Games in four years’ time.
Meanwhile, for those of you who will no longer be in the role of an athlete four years from now, I would like you to make use of the valuable unique experiences that only you have had, and your experiences as medalists, to contribute to the success of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
I would like to end my remarks of thanks by expressing my wish that each of you will lead a shining life, keeping the pride of being an Olympic medalist. Thank you.”
