Passing on the intense competition to the Paralympic Games

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where heated competition unfolded day after day, have come to a close. The first ever one-year postponement in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, coupled with the unprecedented adverse circumstances created by COVID-19. I would like to pay my greatest compliments to the athletes who, despite these challenges, devoted themselves to training to compete on this big stage. Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris, who was passed the Olympic Flag at the Closing Ceremony, remarked, “The international community shares the opinion that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were successfully delivered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.” Other countries from around the world have also expressed praise and appreciation. We can say that Tokyo and Japan demonstrated their real strengths by successfully delivering this historical festival amid an unprecedented crisis. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the enormous support we received from countries around the world, those involved in the Games including volunteers, and Tokyo residents and Japanese citizens who cheered on the Games from their homes.

In six days, the baton of the Tokyo 2020 Games will be passed on to the Paralympic Games. “The Tokyo 2020 Games cannot be a success without the success of the Paralympic Games.” This is what I have been saying, and have consistently believed. I am convinced that the radiant performance of Paralympians who have unlimited potential will give us immense courage in confronting the COVID-19 challenge. And, sharing emotions through Para sports will lead to the realization of a truly inclusive society where diversity is embraced and various differences overcome. While placing priority on holding a safe and secure Games, we will lead the Paralympic Games to success as well, by working with the Organising Committee, national government, relevant local governments, and other stakeholders.

A total of four bills have been presented to this extraordinary session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, including the two aforementioned budget bills and two measures recently enacted by discretionary action, to be deliberated among the Assembly members.

Lastly, I will say it again. Not only is the novel coronavirus invisible, but the Delta variant is hard to beat. The numbers of positive and serious cases are at a disaster level. Just like the heavy rains that rage across our country, the COVID-19 situation is entering a stage that is “unprecedented.” But if the residents, businesses, health care workers, and the government combine their strengths under a single mind, the spread of COVID-19 can definitely be contained. This makes it all the more necessary now for us to exercise utmost vigilance and engage in best actions to save lives. This is what I am again strongly urging each and every resident to do.

With strong determination to do everything we can to win the battle against this formidable enemy, we will devote all our resources to contain this virus as soon as possible. I would like to ask for the understanding and cooperation of the members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and the citizens of Tokyo.

This concludes my speech to the Assembly.
Thank you.