Sport for Tomorrow programme reaches
12 million people in 204 countries
The Sport for Tomorrow Consortium Secretariat announced that the Sport for Tomorrow(SFT) programme has achieved the target of reaching 10 million people in 100 countries.
In September 2013 in Buenos Aires, as the host country of the Olympic and Paralympic
Games in 2020, Japan promised to bring the joy of sport to more than 10 million people in over
100 countries throughout the world. The SFT programme has been led by the Government ofJapan in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan Sports Agency.
Starting in 2014, “All-Japan Initiatives” have taken place with 448 consortium members
across the public-private sectors of Japan and implemented 6,804 programmes. (As of 31March 2020)
The SFT programme is based on the following three pillars:
1.

International Cooperation and Exchange through Sport
Both tangible and intangible support have been provided, focusing on the developing
countries and regions such as:

2.

・Promoting sport and enhancing competitiveness・

Changing the world through the power of sport (peace and development)・Introducing Japanese sport content and culture・International exchange programmes through sport

Academy for Tomorrowʼs Leaders in Sport
Universities in Japan came together to build the bases to educate future leaders of theinternational sporting world. A masterʼs programme for youths in Japan and abroad has
been established and short-term seminars have been offered as well.

3.

“Global Development of Anti-Doping Movement”, also called “PLAY TRUE 2020”
In partnership with Anti-Doping Organisations, international sports federations andeducational institutions, sport values-based education has been developed andimplemented. “TRUTH in Sport” messages by athletes and people who care about sport
have been shared with the world.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has commented on the achievements of the Sport for Tomorrowprogramme (released in Dec 2019).
“At the IOC Session held in September 2013, which awarded the 2020 Games to Tokyo,
Japan promised to the people of the world to provide a “Sport for Tomorrow” programme.
Six years have passed since then. Thanks to efforts by the entire nation of Japan, we recently
achieved our goal of bringing the joy of sports to 10 million people in 100 countries around theworld one year earlier than planned.

This programme has contributed to the development of our relationships with governments
and national sports federations of countries around the world by responding promptly and indetail to their requests such as various types of exchanges through sports, supporting sports
promotion, dispatching coaches, providing equipment and developing facilities.
As a result, Japan has enhanced its presence in the international sports communities.
In particular, Japan has provided steady training support for athletes and coaches by
dispatching coaches to countries that seek to compete in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo for thefirst time and holding training camps in Japan. There are countries including Bhutan andGrenada which have thus fulfilled the conditions for competing in the Paralympic Games inTokyo.
The athletes representing countries appearing for the first time will undoubtedly competewith great energy, bringing joy and inspiration to the world. Just imagining these scenes fills
me with great excitement.
While we hold the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year, when global attention will befocused on Japan, I feel tremendous pride in that many people in Japan believe in the power ofsports and bring the joy of sports throughout the world.
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the organizations andindividuals who support this programme and have provided assistance in various forms. I would
also like to ask them to continue to expand the wonder of sports worldwide.”Sport for Tomorrow will keep delivering the joy and the value of sports to people throughout
the world. “Sport for Tomorrow 2020" movie: https://youtu.be/u8melPJFDl8