Office for Sports Promotion

2024 January 11

The award ceremony for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Honor Award and Tokyo Citizens' Sports Grand Prize was held on Wednesday, October 6, 10, in the seventh floor hall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 30. Olympic and Paralympic medalists with ties to Tokyo, such as those who live or work in Tokyo, attended and were presented with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Honor Award and Tokyo Citizens' Sports Grand Prize by Governor Koike.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Honor Award was established in 16 with the aim of honoring those who have been widely respected by Tokyo residents for their particularly outstanding achievements, who have brought bright dreams, hope and vitality to society, and who have enhanced the reputation of Tokyo. This time, the award was presented to 34 gold medalists from the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Tokyo Citizens' Sports Awards were established in 20 to honor the achievements of Tokyo athletes who have achieved outstanding results in world-class sporting events and to share their excitement with the people of Tokyo. This year's award recipients are a total of 34 people, including 21 Tokyo Metropolitan Honor Award recipients, 18 silver medalists and 73 bronze medalists from the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(The list of 73 award winners ishere）

Athlete Haruka Kitaguchi (athletics) receiving her award

Daiki Kajiwara (badminton) receiving an award

Governor Koike praised the award winners' achievements, saying, "This brilliant result is the culmination of many different feelings and difficult journeys that cannot be expressed by the number of medals won, and I believe it is a reflection of your indomitable spirit of never giving up. Furthermore, the way you all praised one another, regardless of victory or defeat, conveyed the greatness of sportsmanship to children who aspire to become athletes."

He continued, "Next year, in 2025, the World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo. Tokyo will also host the Deaflympics, a comprehensive international competition for athletes with hearing impairments. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will further increase the excitement for sport at the Paris Games and connect it to both Games. I would like to conclude my congratulations to all of today's award recipients, and hope that they will turn the excitement of winning medals in Paris into energy and make even greater strides."

Kitaguchi Haruka (athletics) (left) and Horigome Yuto (skateboarding) (right) giving their greetings

Greeting players Yukiji Miyajiki (goalball) (left) and Manami Tanaka (wheelchair tennis) (left)

Representing the award-winning Olympic athletes, Kitaguchi Haruka, gold medalist in the women's javelin throw, said, "Next year, the World Athletics Championships and the Deaflympics will be held in Tokyo, so I would like to use the power of sports to further energize Tokyo. I would also like to do my best to use the power of sports to encourage people who are about to start something new or who are facing difficulties."

Also, Horimai Yuto, gold medalist in the men's street skateboarding event, said, "I couldn't have achieved this much without everyone's encouragement and support. I realized that no matter how hard it is, if you don't give up until the end, your dreams will come true. I think the most important thing is to see it through to the end, so I will keep that in mind and want to spread that message to many people."

Representing the Paralympic athletes, men's goalball gold medalist Miyajiki Yukitsugu said, "I am able to compete thanks to the help of many people, including my employer and staff, who have created an environment where I can concentrate on my sport. I am grateful for the environment I have been given, and I would like to aim for even greater heights and challenge myself to go beyond my limits."

Tanaka Manami, gold medalist in the women's doubles wheelchair tennis event, also said, "I felt disappointed at the Tokyo Paralympics. But being recognized as a Para-athlete with Tokyo ties gave me hope for the next time, which is why I was able to believe in my own potential and return to Tokyo, the city where I shed tears that day, with a gold medal."

Congratulations to all the award winners! !

(The day's situation (video) ishere）