The World Forum on Sport and Culture has opened.
I am very happy to welcome you to Japan from around the world in the afterglow of the excitement of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to be able to hold discussions from the perspectives of sports, culture and business toward 2020, and the future beyond.
Japan is scheduled to host back-to-back international sporting events such as the Rugby World Cup 2019; Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and Kansai World Masters Games 2021. At the center of global attention, it is important for us to focus our eyes, and work on cultural and economic development, let alone on the development of sports. While trying to combine different fields such as sports, culture and business, I would like to make this forum constructive not only for the success of these international sports meets but also for the future beyond.