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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a presentation ceremony of the Prime Minister’s certificate of appreciation and other events for Japanese athletes who participated in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games, at the Prime Minister's Office.

Over the 17 days of the Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to August 21, Japanese athletes earned 41 medals, including 12 gold medals. Over the 12 days of the Paralympic Games, held from September 7 to September 18, Japanese athletes earned 24 medals. 

At the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented athletes with certificates of appreciation and commemorative gifts.

The Prime Minister made the following remarks,

“I want to truly congratulate everyone who earned gold, silver, and bronze medals, or placed in your competitions, in Rio de Janeiro. You won a total of 65 medals and 185 of you placed highly. All of these honors are truly the fruits of the long years of effort that you have made. At the same time, I think that they show the power of those who have supported you, and of Japan as a whole. I want to also express my heartfelt congratulations to all of the coaches, officials, as well as all of your family members, who more than anyone else supported all of you the whole way.

Your daily spectacular performance in Rio de Janeiro was truly moving for all of us. It gave everyone courage to see the way that all of you never gave up on the chance to win even at the very end.

I myself was a member of the archery club in university for four years, and I worked hard to practice my archery. When I entered the club, I remember thinking that I wanted to go to the Olympics, but after half a year or so, I realized that it would be impossible. Regardless of that, I continued to work at archery for four years. I believe that experience still continues to shape and influence my life.

All of you participated in a sports festival and played active roles in the kind of limelight that people around the world only dream of. I am confident that this valuable experience, which very few people in the world have had, will serve as an inspiration to you for the rest of your lives.

In 2020, it will at last be our turn to inspire the world. Toward the Olympics, we will pioneer a future for Japan through the power of sports. That is the kind of Olympics I want to host. I also want to make it the world’s best Olympics, in which athletes such as yourselves can play their hearts out at their top condition.

I hope that all of you who want to participate as athletes in 2020 will absolutely continue to work hard. Even if you feel that you want to contribute from a separate position, I hope that you will contribute to the success of those Games.

I would like to end my remarks by expressing my hope that all of you will contribute to the success of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games from each of your respective positions. I also want to state my wish that you make use of your experience this time and continue to be active.

Congratulations everyone, and thank you all very much.”