Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Tokyo Governor KOIKE Yuriko on Sunday thanked the Tokyo City volunteers who helped welcome the public and athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

About 200 volunteers participated in the thanksgiving ceremony at Tokyo City Hall, dressed in their uniforms and masks with logos of the city of Tokyo and the Olympic Games.

During the ceremony, Koike welcomed three volunteers onto the stage and presented them with a certificate of appreciation. The three volunteers shared their experiences and their joy in being able to participate in the Olympic Games and to be able to pass on their legacy to other volunteers.

According to Miura Takashi, the director responsible for the organization and management of the volunteers, 30,000 volunteers were registered before the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A total of 17,000 took part in welcoming the public and the athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The volunteers were spread out over several sites, including Haneda Airport, the Olympic Games Souvenir Shop, the Olympic Village and around the Olympic stadiums and facilities.

All the volunteers who participated in the ceremony received certificates of appreciation from the Governor, who signed the documents and recalled that their warm smiles and hospitality helped to bring excitement to the Olympics.

She added that their participation made it possible to overcome the difficulties associated with the event and were a beacon of hope for the rest of the world.