Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019. (AFP/Getty Images)

Emperor Naruhito Named as Tokyo 2020 Honorary Patron

The Japanese Imperial Household Agency announced on Monday (7/23) that Emperor Naruhito has accepted the role of Honorary Patron of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The announcement followed a formal request submitted by Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori through the national government.

Emperor Naruhito will become the third emperor to assume the role, after his grandfather Emperor Hirohito in the 1964 Olympics and his father—then crown prince—assumed the role of Paralympics that year. first t. But what distinguishes Emperor Naruhito with his predecessors is that he will become the first to claim the honor for both the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Mori said the unifying honorary role for both games aims to keep Paralympics on the same level as the Olympics, as it will also be a significant step in promoting the Paralympic Movement in Japan.

The Emperor’s role as an honorary patron will also help to promote the committee’s theme of ‘Reconstruction Olympics’ which intended to share the progress of Japan’s construction and revival areas recovery from the 2011 devastating earthquake and tsunami, Mori added.

Emperor Naruhito will start taking his honorary patron role on Wednesday (7/24), exactly a year before the Olympics begins and is expected to announce the opening of both games in Japan’s capital. He will relinquish the role on September 6 next year, on the closing day of the Paralympic Games.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/07/86844c156e8c-olympics-emperor-naruhito-to-assume-role-as-tokyo-2020-honorary-patron.html