Press Releases
Submission of an “Interim Report” to Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy
1. In the afternoon of August 29, Mr. Kazuo Ogura (Advisor, Japan Foundation), Chairman of the “Panel of Experts on Strengthening Sport Diplomacy,” submitted an “Interim Report” to Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs (also attending were Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Takashi Katsuta, Mr. Daichi Suzuki and Mr. Keiichi Tsunekawa, who are members of the Panel).
2. In the report, policies and measures are described along themes of each meeting such as the development, peace building and relationship between sports and the socially vulnerable persons, which should be implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affiars in coordination with the relevant ministries，agencies and organizations. It states two viewpoints; “Diplomacy for sports,” by which diplomatic authorities implement various efforts for the development of sports, and “ Diplomacy by Sports” that utilizes the influence and attractiveness of sports for the enhancement of diplomacy.
3. Chairman Ogura introduced the main content of the report and at the same time he stated that it was very important for the success of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo that an occasion where experts from various fields could discuss the enhancement of diplomacy through sports under the leadership of Foreign Minister Kishida. Chairman Ogura also stated that he expected assistance from the Minister to realize specific policies and measures described in the report. Moreover, panel members who accompanied Chairman Ogura also stated that they hoped that Minister Kishida would exhibit diplomacy with the power of sports to both domestically and internationally .
In response to their remarks, Foreign Minister Kishida expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the Panel that compiled the report within a short period of time, and stated that he would promote international exchanges through sports as a new diplomatic dimention, beginning with the enforcement of international contribution programme “Sport for Tomorrow.” Subsequently, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister Kishi, stated that he was pleased that various opinions had been exchanged in each meeting and as a resut the report was submitted.
