Team GB Tokyo 2020 Signing Ceremony held at Keio University

Jul 17, 2017
2 min read

The signing ceremony for the Team GB Preparation Camp for Tokyo 2020 was held in the Event Hall of the Kyosei-kan Collaboration Complex at Hiyoshi Campus on Tuesday, March 23. President Seike attended the ceremony along with the Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), Sir Hugh Robertson, the Mayor of Yokohama City, Ms. Fumiko Hayashi, the Mayor of Kawasaki City, Mr. Norihiko Fukuda, and the President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Mr. Tsunekazu Takeda.

Keio University and the cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki concluded a Memorandum of Understating with BOA in February 2016 for hosting the British Olympic Team’s preparation camp for Tokyo 2020. The contract signed at this ceremony determines the use of facilities, as well as the partnership between the four parties, including the facilities to be used, duration, the sports to be hosted, and exchange projects.

Keio University is due to host a total of thirteen events—archery, fencing, modern pentathlon, badminton, gymnastics, table tennis, basketball, judo, taekwondo, boxing, weightlifting, karate, and hockey—from July 3 to August 11, 2020 (including the camp set-up period), centering on the Commemorative Hall, the Athletics Field, and the Mamushidani Gymnasium on Hiyoshi Campus. In addition to the provision of facilities, the university will work to deepen exchange in areas other than sports such as research, education, history, culture, and art. It will also help make contributions to both the regional and international communities going forward.

Mr. Ryo Tateishi, a graduate of Keio University and a bronze medalist in the 200-meter breaststroke at the London Olympics, served as the master of ceremonies. The four representatives of the partnership each gave a short address following Mr. Tateishi’s explanation of the contract. A guest speech was then made by the British Ambassador to Japan, His Excellency Paul Madden CMG, after which the representatives signed the contract bringing the ceremony to a close. A post-ceremony reception was held in a friendly atmosphere in the adjacent venue.