TOKYO 2016 appoints Olympic hero to Bid Committee

Thu, 15/05/2008 - 09:34

Events | Japan | Summer Olympics | Volleyball

The Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee appointed Tomoko Yoshihara, former Japanese national volleyball captain and three-time Olympian, to the Committee as an integral member of its communication team.

The appointment will strengthen TOKYO 2016’s vision, of placing the needs of the athletes first. This vision has the full support of Yoshihara and more than 50 like-minded Olympians who officially back TOKYO 2016, as Bid ambassadors.

Yoshihara, who represented Japan at the 1992, 1996 and 2004 Olympiads, will promote TOKYO 2016 in its domestic and worldwide campaigns. The Bid will leverage her athletic experience and knowledge to advise TOKYO 2016 on building a solid Games Plan. Her advice will ensure the needs of the athletes remain at the heart of the Bid’s efforts.

Pledging her support for TOKYO 2016, Yoshihara said: “I am honoured to be a part of Japan's Bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to promote TOKYO 2016's unique Games concept, to fellow athletes and the Olympic Movement. Participating in three Olympic Games and captaining the Japanese national volleyball team were the proudest moments of my sporting life, and I hope that I can continue to serve Japanese sport and the Olympic Movement through this role."

"There are not so many opportunities to work for the Olympics after retiring as an athlete, so I am grateful and derive the happiness for given this
dream and chance from the Bid,” said Yoshihara. "The Olympics have been something very special for me, so I now want to help as many people as possible feel the wonderful inspiration of the Games."

Welcoming Yoshihara to the Bid, Chairman and CEO of TOKYO 2016, Dr Ichiro Kono said: "We are delighted to have a former Olympian of this stature working with us, and believe that her passion for sport and standing in the Olympic community makes her a significant asset for TOKYO 2016. As one of Japan’s leading sports personalities, I am confident that Yoshihara will provide endless support and dedication to the Bid. The committee is truly looking forward to working with Yoshihara and learning from her valuable insight and counsel.

“The Bid is dedicated to ensuring the Olympic Games are at the very heart of the Tokyo experience, touching the lives of residents and visitors alike. TOKYO 2016 would herald a golden economic and sporting age in Japan and the wider region, and we would be honoured to celebrate it with the world in our exhilarating capital city," Dr Ichiro Kono said

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