Figure 1-2-11 Major International Competitions to be Held in Japan

Year	Name of the competition	Planned venue	Period
2005	2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games $ ^{*} $ 2005 World Rowing Championships	Nagano Prefecture Gifu Prefecture	February 26 to March 5 August 28 to September 4
2006	34th World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka 15th World Basketball Championships for Men 2006 Volleyball World Championships	Fukuoka City Saitama and other cities Tokyo and other prefectures	April 1 and 2 August 19 to September 3 November
2007	2007 Nordic Ski World Championships 2007 World Track and Field Championships	Sapporo City Osaka City	February 22 to March 5 August 24 to September 2

* The Special Olympics Winter World Games is a world competition for the mentally handicapped and held every four years. (Source) Surveyed by MEXT

Saitama Prefecture, from September 11 to 14 and from October 23 to 28, respectively.

The Japan Sports Association started to examine reorganizing the National Athletics Festival in 2001, in order to make it more substantial and active and to simplify its management to increase efficiency. Subsequently in 2003, the Association formulated a document on reorganizing the National Athletics Festival in pursuit of new formats for the Festival. At present, measures are being implemented to reorganize the Festival based on the document and it was decided to start doping control tests at the 58th Summer Session held in 2003 in Shizuoka Prefecture, to integrate the Summer and Fall Sessions at the 61st Festival held in 2006 in Hyogo Prefecture, and to reduce the number of participants at the 63rd Festival held in 2008.

## ☑ Promoting Anti-Doping Activities

“Doping” refers to the practice of athletics competitors using prohibited substances and other banned methods to improve their competitive abilities. Doping in sports is harmful in that (1) it impairs the competitors' own health; (2) it is against the spirit of fair play in sport; and (3) it may lead to addiction and cause social damage. It is therefore important to promote anti-doping activities.

In 1999, to boost anti-doping activities in countries throughout the world, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established and gained worldwide support from those involved in sport as well as from officials and other related persons in national governments. At WADA, Japan serves as the executive director representing the Asian region and is engaged in international activities for education and elucidation. WADA has regional offices for communication and coordination with headquarters in Montreal, Canada and its Asia Oceania regional office was established in Tokyo (within JISS).

Concurrently with the opening ceremony of the Asia Oceania regional office, MEXT hosted the first intergovernmental meeting in the Asian region to discuss anti-doping problems in Asian countries. At the meeting, the participating governments decided on further improvements to the system to allow them to work in cooperation in the Asian region.

▲ First intergovernmental anti-doping meeting in Asia

In Japan, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japan Amateur

Sports Association have been providing correct information to raise the awareness of athletes and their coaches about doping tests in cooperation with their member organizations. In 2001, the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) was founded as an independent organization to conduct doping tests in Japan in a fair and neutral manner.

MEXT will promote anti-doping activities in linkage and cooperation with WADA and JADA.