Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > October, 2004

Prime Minister Koizumi Honors the Japanese Paralympic Team Wednesday, October 27, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi commended the Japanese Paralympic team for their performance in Athens, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The team won a record 52 medals in the history of Japanese participation, including 17 gold medals, in the various events at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games which took place over a course of 12 days from September 17 to 28. Some 100 athletes were invited to the Prime Minister's Official Residence, including medalists, those who won a prize for a top eight placing, those who achieved personal bests and the escort runners. Prime Minister Koizumi presented Mr. Masaru Iwatsubo, the Chef de Mission of the Japanese team and Director-General of the Japan Sports Association for the Disabled (JSAD), with a certificate and gave commemorative gifts to the gold medalists and the representatives of each event. In his address, Prime Minister Koizumi lauded the athletes for their achievements by saying, "I was moved when I saw your performances on television, overcoming the adversities of physical disability. I am sure that many of the people in Japan were encouraged by your performances just as I was."