In preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Japan has launched the Japan Sports Agency, a 121-person institution dedicated to improving athletic performance.
Launched by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the agency is led by commissioner Daichi Suzuki, the winner of the 100-meter backstroke at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Suzuki is confident that the agency will be able to change the mentality surrounding Japan’s Olympic preparations so far. Japan’s Prime Minister, Shizno Abe, did away with the design plan for the main stadium in July, and organizers scrapped the games’ logo after plagiarism accusations last month. However, Suzuki said, “It’s a new month and I believe that we can move in a new direction.”
What probably adds to Suzuki’s confidence in reform is how much influence the agency will have—its tasks include looking after the health of Japan’s general population, improving the performance of their athletes, and sending Japanese coaches abroad to improve their knowledge.
Interestingly, Suzuki is very honest with his assessments of himself and the agency’s progress thus far. He said, “The new National Stadium has gone back to the drawing board and, in a word, it’s disappointing,” and, “Sure, I can’t deny that I don’t have much experience, but I want to absorb as much as I can and go about my job my way.”
But this viewpoint does not stem from dismay; Suzuki still plans on the agency’s and Japan’s success. He said, “the most gold medals Japan has ever won is 16 in Tokyo and Athens. We have to improve on that number.” Here’s to hoping they can achieve their goals.