Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Several Japanese Olympic and Paralympic medalists demonstrated their sporting prowess with public members at a sports experience event in western Tokyo. 

The event included climbing, boccia, judo and a virtual sports experience in disciplines such as wheelchair racing and gymnastics, knee climbing and the long jump.

Three judokas demonstrated several judo techniques – grabs, sweeps and throws – with the audience. Kazusa Ogawa and Yujiro Seto told Arab News Japan they hope to participate in the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Ogawa said she was happy to share her skills with the public and was pleased with the turnout at the event. She added that she had recently won competitions in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while Yujiro Seto said he wanted to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. 

Takayuki Hirose, the gold medalist in boccia in Tokyo, and his assistant Yushiro Taoda passionately commented on the different techniques of boccia, which require attention, skill, talent and strategy.

A large audience attended the event in contrast with last year when the Olympic and Paralympic Games were held without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.