'We'll be stronger than ever in 2021'

IMAGE: Naomi Osaka was the central character
in the video to launch Tokyo 2020’s official motto for the Games, launched last
month. Photograph: Naomi Osaka/Twitter
Japanese tennis player
Naomi Osaka, the poster girl of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, took to social media
on Saturday to show her support for the decision to postpone the Games until
next year
Osaka, who won the US Open
in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2019, was the central character in the video
to launch Tokyo 2020’s official motto for the Games, launched last month.
The coronavirus has since
spread across the world, however, leading to last week's decision by the
Japanese government and International Olympic Committee to postpone the Games.
“Everyone knows how much
the Olympics means to me and how proud I will be to participate in my home
country,” Osaka, the world number 10, wrote on Twitter.
“Of course, I am
disappointed that it won’t happen this year but we’ll all be ready to stronger
ever in 2021! I support Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s brave decision and the IOC
100 per cent."
“Sport will eventually
unite us again and be there for us always, but that time not now,” the
22-year-old added.
“This is the time for
people from all countries, backgrounds and races to rally together to save as
many lives as we can. To me, that is the Olympic spirit.
"To the people of
Japan: stay strong, hang in there, and let's the show the world our beautiful
country when time is right in 2021.”
Osaka, the first Asian to
be ranked world number one, concluded with a message for her 500,000 plus Twitter followers.
“Stay safe everyone, take
care of each other, be kind and we will make it through. Love, Naomi.”
Osaka, who was born in
Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother before being raised in the United
States, was chosen to lead Tokyo 2020’s 'United by Emotion' motto as the face
of a changing country.
Japan, which has
traditionally seen itself as a racially homogeneous country, is becoming more
ethnically diverse and Osaka has been at the forefront of a new wave of
sporting heroes set to represent the host nation at the Olympics.
Coronavirus infections in
Japan have climbed to more than 1,400, with 47 deaths.
No comments:
Post a Comment