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On April 26, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a presentation ceremony of the Prime Minister’s certificate of appreciation and other events for the Japanese teams and associated members who participated in the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Games, at the Prime Minister's Office.
 
At the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented the athletes and other members with certificates of appreciation and commemorative gifts.
 
The Prime Minister said in his address,
 
“Congratulations, and thank you very much.
 
You achieved fantastic results at the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Games, winning 23 medals and 43 diplomas. Being an Olympian or a Paralympian means representing Japan in a competition against other Olympians or Paralympians from all over the world. This is the dream of many people. Earning a place on the Olympic and Paralympic teams requires triumphing through fierce competition and an enormous amount of effort to earn such a chance that comes along only once every four years. You have done not only that but also competed against the best athletes from around the world at the Games and earned medals or diplomas. I wish to commend you once again for your tremendous achievements.
 
I believe this room truly shines bright. All of you are constantly challenging your own limits. It is surely thanks to your continuous endeavor that you have been decorated with medals or diplomas. You pushed yourselves to the end, and you have been honored for it. You are a source of inspiration and courage for many people.
 
Just around the opening of the Nagano Olympic Games, held in Japan, a chronic disease I had had worsened. I had to be admitted to the hospital and was there for approximately three months. At that time, I had just started my career as a politician. I remember thinking, while watching television, that it would be very difficult for me to make it in politics after all. I also vividly recall seeing Hiroyasu Shimizu overcome so many difficulties to win the gold medal at the Nagano Olympics on the TV. Even now I can clearly remember being moved by the way that he pushed himself to the very end, and finding the courage to give politics one more try.
 
Your performances have truly excited, moved, and encouraged people all across Japan. I am sure that there are many children who have been inspired to appear in the Games themselves, and to put in the hard work it takes to do so. Many young people are going to strive to follow in your footsteps at future Olympic and Paralympic Games. I have no doubt that your performances will lead to further achievements at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
 
I hope to ensure that your performances help the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games be an enormous success. The PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a very important memory and event in all of your lives. Please use the experience of the Games to propel yourselves to even greater heights in your careers and lives. It is my sincere hope that you do so. Congratulations everyone, and thank you.”