Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� September, 2003

International Competition Medalists Pay Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Tuesday, September 16, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from the international competition medalists at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. This courtesy call was given by medalists from the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships Barcelona 2003 held in July; the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics Paris 2003 held in August; the 2003 World Gymnastics Championships held in the United States in August; the 2003 World Judo Championships held in Osaka in September; the 42nd World Archery Outdoor Target Championship 2003 held in the United States in July; and the World Badminton Championships held in England in July. Prime Minister Koizumi received courtesy calls from Mr. Kosuke Kitajima who set new world records and won gold medals in two men's breaststroke events and Ms. Miho Takeda who won a team silver medal in synchronized swimming at the World Swimming Championships; Mr. Koji Murofushi who won the bronze medal in hammer throw, Mr. Shingo Suetsugu who also won the bronze medal in the 200-meter event, and Ms. Mizuki Noguchi who won the silver medal and Ms. Masako Chiba who won the bronze medal, both in the marathon event, at the World Championships in Athletics. Furthermore, courtesy calls were from Mr. Takehiro Kashima who won gold medals in both the pommel horse and horizontal bar events at the World Gymnastics Championships; and Mr. Yasuyuki Muneta, Mr. Kosei Inoue, Ms. Noriko Anno, Ms. Masae Ueno, Mr. Keiji Suzuki and Ms. Ryoko Tamura who each won a gold medal at the World Judo Championships. In addition, Ms. Yukari Kawasaki who placed second in the group competition at the World Archery Outdoor Target Championship and Ms. Shizuka Yamamoto who placed third in doubles at the World Badminton Championships.