Sport Exchange
Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy
June 1, 2015
- In view of the decision to hold the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to establish an “Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy” under the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in order to seek the opinions of experts in a wide range of fields regarding how to harness the power that sport possesses for strengthening diplomacy of Japan.
- The Panel held its first meeting on February 13 under Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi (representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs). It will hold discussions up until the end of the year, and will submit recommendations on necessary policies to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
- The Panel’s chair and members are as follows:
Chair Kazuo Ogura Advisor, Japan Foundation Members Yuko Arimori President and CEO, Special Olympics Nippon Takashi Katsuta Department Director, Sports Innovation Department, Japan Sport Council Teiichi Sato Professor, International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School Hisashi Sanada Provost, University of Tsukuba Daichi Suzuki President, Japan Swimming Federation; Professor, Juntendo University Kohzo Tashima Vice President, Japan Football Association Keiichi Tsunekawa Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies Takeshi Niinami President, Member of the Board, Representative Director, Suntory Holdings Limited Yasushi Watanabe Professor, Keio University
- Appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Sport Diplomacy (June 1, 2015)
- Submission of the Final Report to the State Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy (February 4, 2015)
- Fifth Meeting of the “Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy” (September 4, 2014)
- Submission of an “Interim Report” to Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy (August 29, 2014)
- Fourth Meeting of the “Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy” (July 10, 2014)
- Summary of the Third Meeting (April 18, 2014)
- Summary of the Second Meeting (March 10, 2014)
- Summary of the First Meeting (February 13, 2014)