February 1, 2022
Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games
Tokyo 2020 Preparation
Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Results of Survey on Tokyo Residents' Awareness in the post Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Following the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) conducted a questionnaire survey on resident’s awareness of the Paralympic Games, accessibility in the city, and related issues. The results were as follows.

Survey Result Main Points

1. Over 40% of Tokyo residents watched the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, a much larger proportion than the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
2. Among the people who watched the Paralympics, over 80% said they enjoyed the events.
   →The most common answer for the sport they enjoyed the most was wheelchair basketball (about 20%).
3. About 30% of respondents said they had developed a greater understanding of people with impairments (compared to when the city was selected to host the Paralympics in 2013).
4. About 60% of respondents said accessibility in the city has improved (compared to when the city was selected to host the Paralympics in 2013).
5. The most common answer for the effects of holding the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was “promoted understanding of people with impairments” (about 40%).

Through holding the Paralympic Games, many Tokyo residents got a sense of the appeal of Para Sports. TMG continues working on initiatives to promote Para Sports, moving toward the achievement of an inclusive society.

*References

(detailed results are shown on the attached(PDF:457KB) Japanese press release.)

Regarding the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

• People who watched the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games events or ceremonies: 44.5%
  →About 34% higher than the viewing rate for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (11.0%)
• Viewers who enjoyed the events or ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: 85.4%
  →Popular choices for the reasons they enjoyed them included “because I was able to see Japanese athletes performing at a high level” (62.5%) and “because the events were interesting” (53.7%).
• Among the events, the most popular ones to watch were swimming (60.5%), followed by wheelchair basketball (51.9%) and wheelchair tennis (51.1%).
• The most common answer for the sport they enjoyed the most was wheelchair basketball (19.4%), followed by wheelchair tennis (16.1%) and swimming (13.3%).
• For the effects of holding the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the most common answer was “promoted understanding of people with impairments” (41.3%), followed by “promoted the spread of Para Sports” (33.2%), “improved the awareness of Para Athletes” (32.2%), “promoted understanding of an inclusive society” (32.0%), and “improved accessibility in the city” (30.1%).

Regarding changes in awareness and interactions with people with impairments (compared to when the city was selected to host the Paralympics in 2013).

• People with disability certificates who answered “understanding of the people around me has improved”: 27.2%
• People without disability certificates who answered “(my own personal) understanding of people with impairments has improved”: 30.3%

Regarding the barrier-free settings and accessibility in the Tokyo Metropolitan area (compared to when the city was selected to host the Paralympics in 2013).

• People who answered “the barrier-free settings and accessibility in the Tokyo Metropolitan area has improved”: 58.8%

*Survey Overview

• Survey targets
  Tokyo residents 18 and older
• Survey period
  1 – 31 October 2021
• Survey method
  Anonymous online survey
• Number of respondents
  3,000 (respondents with disability certificates: 151)

*Please click here for the original Japanese article.

Inquiries (Assistance in Japanese only)

Coordination Section, Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Division Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation Phone: 03-5388-2553