LIFE & CULTURE

BEHIND THE SCENES OF

A FIRSTPARALYMPICAPPEARANCEAT TOKYO 2020

BHUTANMALDIVESThe Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games highlighted
intense athletic competition among 162 participating
delegations, six of which made their first Paralympic
appearance with support from a Japanese University.
When Rodrigo Hermosa saw his time on theelectronic scoreboard—29.72 seconds—he unleasheda roar and pumped his fist. As Paraguay’s first everSAINT VINCENT
AND THE GRENADINESGRENADAGUYANAPARAGUAY

Paralympian, he had just broken the 30-second barrier
for the first time, setting a personal best on the bigstage, while participating in a heat of the men’s 50 m
freestyle S9 (physical impairment class) at the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games on August 29.
There were several Japanese people among thosecheering Hermosa on: faculty and researchers fromNippon Sport Science University. As an institutionthat began undertaking projects for the JapanSports Agency in 2017, the university helped paraathletes from all around the world reach this year’s

Paralympics. Hermosa is one such person.
ITO Masamitsu, a professor at Nippon Sport
Science University who runs the support program,met Hermosa in Paraguay in 2018. At the time,
Hermosa was only 14 years old. Born without hisright arm below the elbow, he was an inexperienced
swimmer and wasn’t ready to be an athlete. However,after joining a camp organized by the university andappearing in an international competition, he began
receiving domestic media coverage. That planted theseed of Hermosa’s identity as an athlete.
Many countries, like Hermosa’s, face difficulties
in sending delegations to the Paralympics due
to small numbers of athletes, and in somecases, weak committee-management capabilities—aNational Paralympic Committee is a requirement
for participation in the Paralympics. Therefore,
the university assigns staff to various regions andRodrigo Hermosa became Paraguay’s firstParalympian. Swimming helped him grow mentally.
Recently, he has been spreading his message amongpeople with disabilities in his country.

Top: Nippon Sport Science University provided wide-ranging assistance,from athlete scouting and instruction to coaching-staff development, as wellas nutritional and psychological support for athletes.
Bottom:The university’s support of other countries includes National
Paralympic Committee administration and classes on coaching and othersubjects. Second from right is Professor ITO Masamitsu, researchingcoaching studies at Nippon Sport Science University.

With aid from Nippon Sport Science University, Bhutan made its first Paralympic
appearance and sent a delegation wearing ethnic costumes to the Opening Ceremony. The
country’s three para-athletes competed in the shot put and archery athletics events.
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provides a wide range of assistance tailored to eachcountry’s situation. Its support has reached a totalof 43 countries, six of which made their first-everParalympic appearances this year: Paraguay, Bhutan,
the Maldives, Grenada, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, and Guyana.
The goal of Nippon Sport Science University isfor those athletic endeavors to continue after theirsupport concludes. To that end, it is essential tochange attitudes on the local level. As Professor
Ito says, “If they’re happy with just making anappearance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, thenthere’s no point. To connect with what comes
next, we’ve engaged in numerous discussions
with athletes, coaches, and National Paralympic
Committee members about the purpose of sending
someone to the Paralympics. Thus, we shared thebigger goal of ‘building a society where people withdisabilities can live comfortably’ with them. I do
believe that they will make further progress towardmaking that happen.”
Hermosa said, “For many people in Paraguay,these Paralympics were the first ones that they had
ever watched. After I returned home, I heard people
say things like, ‘I was impressed to see athletes withall sorts of disabilities playing sports so intensively.’
Looking ahead I want to achieve even better results ininternational competitions.” His future performance
will no doubt embolden people with disabilities. TheTokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were a precious step
forward, influencing attitudes toward the creation of
an inclusive society.