Japanese article is available in JOSHITAIIKUVol. 61:4-５(Apr.-May) 2019

Lila: In general, invisible patriarchal thinking forms a regime around the world, inInterview

Inclusivity Starts with Conversation〜Breaking Barriers with Dialogue〜
Lilamani de Soysa(TIAS)/Arisa Yagi(JWCPE)

other words the people with power, who make decisions are usually men. Seemingly
there are the same opportunities for both sexes, but in reality, opportunities are notgiven. Women have to work twice as hard to obtain them. In order to overcome thissituation, I think, it is necessary, to both advance empowerment among women andthe other is to promote women into leadership, including coaches and teachers. The
first step is to understand the role women have to play in sport and physicalLilamani de Soysa
From Sri Lanka & Switzerland. Loved sports since she was agirl. Played table tennis very well in national team. Studied
English literature and is proficient in many languages
including English, French, Russian and Sinhalese. She has
been working in international sport for over 2 decades and is
now working at TIAS (Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies at the University of Tsukuba since 2015 as aresearcher and person in charge of international relations. She
previously worked at the International Table Tennis
Federation as Project Manager and European Table Tennis
Union as Youth and Development Manager. She is widely
travelled and is active in a wide range of projects, mainly
focusing on women's participation in sports.

education and then to understand the history of women and sport and then to teachthe young generations. Women have to tell their stories, also through academic
research.
Yagi: If you want to treat each person's ability equally, the option that men teachwomen and women teach men should be always possible as well.
Lila: At present, empowerment for young people by their own gender group isnecessary. Peer pressure could be put to good use. For example, in order to develop
a girls' self-concept as a female and to protect them from problems such as
infectious diseases and undesirable pregnancy, information exchange between
females in different age
groups and educational

Interviewer: Arisa Yagi (Japan Women's College of P.E.) Encountered creative dance in juniorhigh school and later on the road of dance therapy research and practice. We turned out to be thesame age!

Gender perspective is a window of diversity
Yagi：I think that there are many people who think that women's social advancement
has progressed and society has changed compared to before. As a researcher at theTsukuba International Academy of Sport Studies (TIAS) and a member of theInternational Women's Sports Working Group (IWG), Lila you are actively promoting
gender related research and its results. What can you say about that?
Lila：In the field of physical education and sports, there are various advanced
approaches, but I feel that the organization and consultation mechanisms maintainconservative aspects. There are still only few female leading researchers andprofessors in particular. Men are often leaders even in female sports. And women’svoices are not heard or often ignored!
Yagi：What is the benefit to increase the proportion of women concretely?
© Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 公益社団法人 日本女子体育連盟

situations in a safe
atmosphere are
essential at grass-root

Until the lion learns how
to speak, every story will
glorify the hunter.
―African proverblevel. In this way, you
can train to thinkcritically to solve
problems while thinking
about yourself. Physicaleducation and sport
have a very great
potential as a place forsuch training. Educationthat improves quality ofleaders whileIn Univ. Tsukuba, GLOBAL SPORT INNOVATION bld.

Japanese article is available in JOSHITAIIKUVol. 61:4-５(Apr.-May) 2019

expanding the diversity within physical education and sport leaders is a matter offounded the International Sports Organization “Fédération Sportive Féminine

urgency.

Internationale (FSFI)”. The first 'Women’s Olympic Games' was held in Paris in theYagi: Can you think that gender is not simply a matter between men and women, but

next year, followed by three times until the 1934 London games, goose bumps stoodmatter of how to grasp people in diversity? In order to get closer to the optimal

when I heard this lecture. "I also have to do something!"

condition, do you think that it is necessary to expand the quantity first, not only theAfter that, everything I work on is networked by table tennis and by being an

quality?

activist for women's sport. Through TIAS we have started a research and girls

Lila: You can think about narrowing down the problems of the two categories of male

empowerment programme in Kenya in collaboration with a local NGO. Japan hasand female but if you can look from far away, you can understand that this is also

supported this programme for example, with 100 table tennis tables, including

one of diversity. People with different cultures and languages and people withtransportation fee!

problems such as poverty and disability may not always be around you, but the otherYagi: I got the history of the "Women's Olympics" for the first time.

gender group is always there and is the biggest category.

Lila: The great Japanese athlete Kinue Hitomi had also appeared in the second
Women's Games. It is interesting to note that Japan supported the Women’s GamesChances given through table tennis

and sent an athlete. Did you know that often at that time it is the Western countries

Yagi: By the way, what made you to get into this area?

that opposed women’s advancement for example in human rights? Sport is a human

Lila: If you really want to know, it will be necessary to talk for days (laugh). Briefly toright. Like Alice Milliat in sport, Bertha Lutz from Brazil was instrumental insay, table tennis which I have been playing from early childhood has led me to this. I

introducing the word “women” in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But how

majored in English literature at university and learned many other languages.

many people have heard of Bertha Lutz? Everyone thinks that women have a place

However, in parallel with that, I was a table tennis player who represented thein the Universal Declaration because Western countries fought for it. Actually, it wascountry in table tennis. I also played for my university in Lausanne. In Sri Lanka I

the Latin American delegates mainly that fought for it, against the American andgrew up in a relatively liberal family and my parents supported me to be active in all

British female delegates who were opposed to the word “women” being mentioned insports. And after I had finished my Master’s in Switzerland, there was recruitment at

the Declaration. They thought it would be “vulgar” and that it was "not the right time".

the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), which moved its headquarters toBut when is the "right time?"

Lausanne, I thought, “ Oh wonderful, table tennis! ” Though it was different from theYagi: Well, I think that progressive things always come from Europe and North

specialty of research, I decided to go for it and I was hired. At that time, the idea ofAmerica. Perhaps, people who had started all at the beginning have experienced“sport management” was not in my mind at all.

hardships, so that they think "you people are not mature enough yet".

Then one day in 2002, the ITTF President asked me to attend the worldconference on women and sport organized by the IWG in Montreal, Canada and it

Anxiety barrier "premature"

was an eye-opening moment for me. I learnt many things, for example about theLila: When new values are in front of you, I often encounter the word "premature". I

history of the efforts of the "female Olympics" for the first time in a lecture that took

think that this background is in "anxiety or fear" that comes from the feeling that yourplace there. Existing sports organizations such as the International Olympic

own comfortable system changes, in many cases.

Committee and the International Amateur Athletics Federation did not show anyFor example, when we introduced the gender and sport course at TIAS ininterest in women's participation. So in October 1921, Alice Milliat, a French woman

2016, and as TIAS is a project for Tokyo 2020, so I thought, if Governor Koike could© Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 公益社団法人 日本女子体育連盟

Japanese article is available in JOSHITAIIKUVol. 61:4-５(Apr.-May) 2019

participate in some form in our lectures because she is also a sportswoman, thisLira: You are right. Here is also the key to diversity. Thinking in a different language

could be exciting and empowering for the students. Everyone told me how difficult itsystem leads to a change in the view of things and may provide a bird's-eye view ofwould be as "If you do through the official window." "But it will be difficult." Perhaps

various things.

they were worried about failing. But after insisting TIAS sent a letter directly to theGovernor. Then, although she could not attend due to other commitments, I received
a letter of encouragement with a signature autograph by Tokyo Governor with a goodfeeling [Yagi saw the real thing! ]This kind of way will not always work out well, but when can you be satisfied
with the conditions? When you are satisfied, isn’t it that the problem has been solved
already? As we are felt the task is "now, here", I think that it is most important totake action in "now, here".
Yagi: "Premature" is an excuse from "anxiety".
Lila: To say "there is no tools" as well. There is no such thing that you cannot

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2016

Tsukuba 2016

experience the pleasure of soccer without an association-certified soccer ball. In
practice in Africa, they make the ball with plastic bags wrapped together with string
and children have fun and play. Children are very creative. Also if you really want todo sport and encourage others you can find solutions.

Develop flexibility not to be confined by one singular mind set
Yagi: Different culture, "anxiety" for things different from myself are also there.
Lila: When looking at gender, disability, different cultures, "fear" often causes barriers.
But even if you have a person with disability that you do not know how to deal with,knowing "this person" will change that feeling. I think that listening to that person's
voice will lead to changes in understanding and behavior. For that reason "dialogue"

Machakos, Kenya 2017
Canelones, Uruguay 2018
Nanairo Ekiden Projectis very important.
Lila: We should learn even one or more foreign languages. And it is important toNanairo Ekiden at 2020 and beyond

keep learning or keep using. The brain is similar to the muscles and always requires

Yagi: Please tell me about "Nanairo Ekiden".

movement. Unfortunately, people in Japan hesitate to use foreign languages.

Lila: "Nanairo Ekiden" is an inclusive sport event that we created at Tsukuba

Yagi: Language is also a form of thinking. By working on different languages, you

University where we have the "Nanairo Sports Festa" hosted by the University of

can challenge to see things on a different scale than what you believe in your mother

Tsukuba. Inclusion, regional development, education, and efforts for the legacy oflanguage without criticism.

Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Firstly held in Tsukuba in February 2016, followedby Kenya, Rio, Uruguay, and again this year again in Tsukuba on 17th March. I am© Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 公益社団法人 日本女子体育連盟

Japanese article is available in JOSHITAIIKU

pleased to see that this idea is spreading and developing as a spin-off in Japan andabroad.

Vol. 61:4-５(Apr.-May) 2019Children write hopes and dreams depicted in their heart through theiractivities on the ribbon and tie them to the Nanairo tree. The number of ribbons has

Everyone can participate regardless of gender, nationality, age group,

increased since we started. I think this is a very good way. It is a tangible heritage

disability, sports experience, etc. The seven colours represent Olympic andconnecting people who participated beyond time and place.

Paralympic values and passing the TASUKI symbolizes the connections between

Yagi: It is really exciting!! Could you give a message to our readers?

people of all ages, gender, nationality etc. Not only those who are interested in sports,

Lila: Physical education and sports are really something that you can share with

but also people who do not have contact with sports originally can get involved. For

people in your life. Especially when you experience this and learn to value and build

example, we ask students of the Department of Art in our University to design andphysical literacy when you are young, you become resilient and this can have a big

produce medals and trophies and they did a fantastic job, and we invite people in theimpact on later life. You can connect to the world through sports, and you cancommunity for support as a volunteer as well.

discover lots of new things and make new friends and try to have a better

Yagi: How can I get this lovely trophy and medals?

understanding of the world. I think that it is the duty of the world of physical education

Lila: There is neither a winner nor a loser. All participants are winners. Diverse types

and sports to ensure that girls are taught to value sport so that they also wish to leadof participants united in a certain team run holding the values symbolized by their

the future world of sport. High quality female leaders will change the world of sport

colors in their mind. From the value of the Olympic Games, Excellence as Yellow,for the better. Women must make their voices heard and tell their stories! As Bertha

Friendship as Red, Respect as Green. From the value of the Paralympic Games,Lutz said in 1945 “there will never be unbreakable peace in the world if women don’t

Determination as Blue, Courage as Purple, Equality as Black, and Inspiration as

help to make it”. In the same way, there will never be a GREAT world of sport if

White, all as Symbols. The reason for adopting the form of the Ekiden is that it iswomen don’t help to make it. Keep doing sport! Go for leadership!!

necessary to be able to share the value within the team to support each runner torealize his potential as representative of the value. It also includes the meaning of
connecting to the generation after the 2020 Olympics. In parallel with the Ekiden,
educational programs for sports experience and problem understanding are part of
the Nanairo concept.
Yagi: How the education programs will be planned?
Lilla: It should be based on local needs to a certain extent and it is decided after
consultation with the local host institution. Mainly Olympic and Paralympic value
education, understanding people with disabilities, anti-doping and fair-play, culturalexchanges, etc. In this occasion we will introduce Japanese traditional culture and in
return we will learn the local, for example, dance or something typical local culturalactivity. Me, as a Sri Lankan was teaching children in Rio and Nairobi how to use
Japanese chopsticks (smile while watching the picture). This scene is very nice. I, aSri Lankan can build strong relationships with Japan and share this with others. Don’tyou think it is amazing?
© Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 公益社団法人 日本女子体育連盟

With Nanairo Ekiden T-shirt and Nanairo Tree（2019 Jan 19 at Univ. of Tsukuba）