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PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture

It can be stated that the active performance of Japanese athletes in international athletic games stimulates the Japanese people's interest in and motivation regarding sports activities, and contributes to the spread and promotion of people's sports activities, and thus to the formation of a sound, rich and energetic society.

In recent years, however, the international standards of competitive sports have been greatly improved, and the competitiveness of Japanese athletes has been relatively declining. Consequently, it has become increasingly difficult for Japanese athletes to gain excellent records in the Olympic games or other international games.

In view of these circumstances, in its budget for the 1990 fiscal year, the Ministry increased, to a large extent, the amount of national subsidies to the Japan Amateur Sports Association and the Japanese Olympic Committee for their programs for increasing the competitiveness of Japanese athletes.

With a view to paying due regard to the opinions of athletes in planning and implementing sports policies, in 1989 the Ministry began to appoint a number of eminent athletes "sports adviser" to the Ministry.

Further, the Ministry is preparing for the creation of a National Center of Sports Science which is intended to conduct studies in sports medicine and science, to provide athletes with opportunities for scientific training, and thus to contribute to the promotion of the international competitiveness of Japanese athletes.

In 1989 and 1990 the Ministry also carried out feasibility studies on the creation of a Sports Promotion Fund.