Towards Creating a Sporting World that Inspires

I wish you a Happy New Year!

In 2022, the Japan Sports Agency, or the JSA, promoted various policies based on the Third Sport Basic Plan launched last April. The new plan aims to further raise the level of the values of sport through the succession and development of sport legacies of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Firstly, on the highly publicized scandal involving the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee that has greatly undermined the value of sport, it’s unacceptable in the sporting world which places high value on fairness. To this end, the JSA has launched a project team to examine the governance system of the organizing committee that is responsible for the management of the Games and the modality of information disclosure. Towards reclaiming fairness, all relevant parties to the sporting world will stand together collectively to strictly advance measures that contribute to the smooth operation of major international and domestic competitions.

Now, on utilizing the growing momentum in sport participation following the 2020 Tokyo Games, it’s important to spread such values of sport being fun and the joy it brings to our lives. It’s also important to create an environment where everyone can enjoy sport together regardless of their gender, age or disability.

On advancing the transfer of the management of school-based sport club activities to local communities or local sport clubs, the JSA study council has summarized a proposal in 2022 and released the results of a practical study on schools that have advanced such measures. The JSA has also developed new support measures for schools going through this process and assisted in dispatching supervisors to school sport clubs. This has led to the development of comprehensive guidelines which include the modality of new local sport clubs and how local communities should collaborate to advance the transfer of management.

The JSA will continue to collaborate with various related parties to secure children the opportunity to continue playing sport and to solve the gap in children’s hands-on experiences.

On the Sport in Life Project-a consortium created to promote collaboration among businesses and organizations, with a membership now exceeding two thousand, it is gradually developing into a platform for information and resources to implement sport.

Moreover, in FY2022, the JSA has also newly launched comprehensive research on increasing the ratio of people’s participation in sport. On research related to conditioning, the JSA will promote research themes specific to sport and globally disseminate their results.

On the scientific knowhow and medical collaborative measures achieved through the Tokyo Games, the JSA hopes the dissemination of such knowledge to athletes and the public will lead to new results. The JSA will advance measures so that sport becomes a part of people’s daily activities throughout their lives.

On improving international competitiveness, based on the proposal by the council reviewing the modality of support for sport medicine and science in regional communities, the JSA will advance collaboration between the central and local governments to utilize knowledge on sport medicine and science to help all athletes prevent injury, disability, and disease through sport, and improve environments so athletes can safely continue competing while maintaining their health.

Another one of JSA’s core policies is to revitalize regional economies through sport. The JSA has launched a system to award municipalities that implement outstanding measures to promote sport and healthy town building. At the second awards ceremony, 20 municipalities were recognized for their unique ideas.

On making stadium arenas serve as a base for town building and regional revitalization, the government, municipalities, and private companies must collaborate to advance the renovation of stadium arenas. The JSA will select good practices by model facilities, so they roll out nationally. The JSA will also support new business models co-created by sport teams and private companies to promote diverse open innovation of sport nationwide and will also work to revitalize the economy and solve social issues through sport.

Additionally, it’s important for relevant ministries and organizations to further deepen collaboration and cooperation. The JSA’s core role is to advance various measures and policies through sport to revitalize society and solve various issues. The JSA will work more than ever to promote sport policies by advancing collaboration and cooperation to break down the barriers among ministries.

I have worked to disseminate the allure of sport and sport safety in various ways through SNS in my physical activity self-check and heatstroke videos. I will continue working to raise the nation’s interest in sport.

Sport has the power to encourage people and contributes to a healthy mind and body. The JSA will make an all-out effort to create a sporting world that inspires!

JSA Commissioner
MUROFUSHI Koji