I concur with the editorial "Aiming for more than medals" in the May 31 edition that the limited resources should be focused on broadening and deepening sports participation among the underprivileged and disadvantaged for the long-term benefit of Japan.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is an excellent platform to showcase Japan and to refocus the world's eyes back to what has made Japan famous since the 1980s — quality and efficiency and high standards.
With a declining fertility rate, every newborn is more important than ever and sports is a great equalizer to promote social mobility across the culture and technology divide. The new Sports Agency can cut through the bureaucracy with the sole purpose of rallying every Japanese, young and old, to feel confident about their body and future.
The future is in our young, and true benefits will be manifest in terms of a higher median height and greater strength for future generations, and a more cohesive Japan beaming with vitality because of its people's faith about its future.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.