Sports Promotion Headquarters

On Tuesday, October XNUMX, XNUMX, the awards ceremony for the Tokyo Metropolitan Honor Award and Citizen Sports Award was held at the conference hall on the XNUMXth floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. XNUMX Main Building.Olympic and Paralympic medalists with ties to Tokyo, including those living and working in Tokyo, were in attendance, and Governor Koike presented them with the Tokyo Metropolitan Honor Award and Citizen Sports Award.

Additionally, on the day of the event, a ceremony to present letters of appreciation for the Tokyo 2020 Games and a networking event between medalists and children were also held.

The purpose of the Tokyo Metropolitan Honor Award is to honor those who have been widely respected by the citizens of Tokyo, given bright dreams, hopes and vitality to society, and raised the name of Tokyo due to their particularly outstanding achievements. It was established in 16.This time, the awards were presented to 33 gold medalists at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Tokyo Citizen Sports Award was established in 20 to honor the achievements of Tokyo athletes who have achieved excellent results in world-class sports competitions, and to share that excitement with the citizens of Tokyo.A total of 33 people received this award, including 26 recipients of the Tokyo Metropolitan Honor Award, 33 silver medalists, and 92 bronze medalists from the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

(The list of 92 award winners ishere）

Mayu Mukoda receiving an award (wrestling)

Takayuki Suzuki receiving an award (swimming)

Governor Koike said, ``In an unprecedented situation, with the event being postponed for a year, the event being held without spectators, and various other restrictions, you have worked tirelessly and fought through to the end without giving up. Their sight gave us courage and inspiration, and became a beacon of hope for many Tokyo residents and people around the world. Thank you very much. He showed us once again.With this as a legacy, we will work towards the realization of a ``Sports Field Tokyo'' where everyone can enjoy sports, regardless of whether they have a disability or not.I would like to congratulate all of the award recipients today and hope that they will make even greater strides and shine on the world stage. '' he gave a congratulatory message.

Chairman Hashimoto of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee said, ``The Tokyo 2020 Games, which were postponed for the first time in history, must have been really difficult for everyone.However, even under such circumstances, we looked forward and did not give up. The earnest preparations, the wonderful performances on the stage of dreams, and the many words spoken by everyone have given courage to people across Japan and around the world who are also facing difficult situations. Thank you very much.As a former competitor, I would like to express my gratitude and sincere respect to all of you.''

Greetings by Hifumi Abe (judo) (left) and Moe Nonaka (sport climbing) (right)

Yuma Yamazaki (badminton) (left) and Hide Toyoshima (wheelchair basketball) (right) greet each other.

Speaking on behalf of the Olympic athletes who received the award, Hifumi Abe, gold medalist in the men's 66kg judo category, said, ``Thanks to everyone's support, we were able to successfully win the Tokyo Olympics.The Paris Olympics will be held in three years. We will continue to do our best to win our second consecutive victory, so please continue to support us."

Moe Nonaka, the sport climbing bouldering, lead, and speed combined silver medalist, said, ``I felt special that the Olympics were being held in my hometown of Tokyo, and that sport climbing had been adopted as a new sport. It is a miracle that we were able to hold the Games safely, to be able to stand on the big stage of the Olympics, and to be able to achieve results like this, all thanks to everyone's efforts, and I am very happy about it.''

Speaking on behalf of Paralympic athletes, Yuma Yamazaki, women's badminton doubles WH gold medalist, said, ``The Paralympic Games will be held in Tokyo, where I was born and raised, and Para-badminton will be introduced as a new sport, and I hope many people will see it. Among them, I was able to win nine medals in para-badminton overall, and I am really happy that I was able to win the women's doubles and third place in the singles.I wish my children the best. I am also happy that I was able to see them doing so, and by seeing us in action at the Paralympic Games, I was able to realize that I can enjoy myself even if I become disabled or have children. I would be happy if I could tell them that they can find something they can devote themselves to and work hard at it."

In addition, wheelchair basketball men's silver medalist Hide Toyoshima said, ``As a result of the support of many people across Japan, wheelchair basketball was able to win a medal for the first time, and I am really proud. I want to do my best to make it a sport that anyone can participate in and that makes everyone smile."

Congratulations to all the award winners! !

(The day's situation (video) ishere）