【Project Activities】

Narita City, building on its legacy agreement with the Paralympics Ireland since the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games pre-camp, designates August 18th (the date it welcomed the Irish Paralympic team) as a day to remember their friendship and reaffirm the city’s commitment to realizing an inclusive society. The week from August 18th to August 24th is designated as “Inclusive Society Week” in Narita. During this week, initiatives are carried out to achieve an inclusive society through sports, including para sports experience sessions, competitions, and panel exhibitions on para sports. Furthermore, the city promotes an inclusive society from various perspectives, utilizing “PARA Beats!”, the city’s theme song for promoting an inclusive society created as part of the inclusive society support project with Ireland stemming from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, and “PARA Beats! Habatakou! Naritai Watashi e” (Fly! Towards the me I want to be), a song with lyrics and arrangement based on the original.

【Project Background】

Narita City signed a legacy agreement with Paralympics Ireland on November 20, 2021, and designated August 18th as a day to remember their friendship and reaffirm the city’s commitment to realizing an inclusive society. The project was realized based on a proposal from Chairman Kawai of the Japan Paralympic Committee, who participated in the legacy agreement signing event, suggesting that “since a plan is underway to make August 24th Japan Paralympic Day, why doesn’t Narita City also make the week from August 18th to 24th ‘Inclusive Society Week’?”

【Project Objective】

To achieve an inclusive society through sports, where everyone, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or presence of disability, can easily and continuously engage in sports throughout their lives.

【Project Area】

Promotion of Para Sports; Promotion of an inclusive society through sports

【Methods】

Panel exhibition on para sports; Para sports experience sessions, Boccia tournament; Talk show by para-athletes

【Outcomes】

The city’s unique initiatives were recognized, and in March 2023, Narita City became the first municipality nationwide to receive the Japan Sports Agency Commissioner’s Award for its solo efforts. It is also recognized that these initiatives are fostering awareness among citizens regarding an inclusive society.

【Voices from Participants and Partners】

Participants expressed opinions that their understanding of an inclusive society deepened through para sports experiences, and some suggested that promotion should be strengthened to raise further awareness.

【Challenges and Lessons Learned】

Given the low recognition and understanding of para sports, efforts to promote para sports will continue through experience sessions and other events.

【URL】

https://www.city.narita.chiba.jp/bunka_sports/ksw-sports-narita_report_00002.html