The Wheelchair Softball World Series is taking over Crestwood for the next three days, bringing together 21 teams including one from Japan. The Wheelchair Softball World Championships will be held in Osaka in November.
Rikako Ikee, the 2018 Asian Games’ MPV, qualified on Saturday for this September’s games in Hangzhou, China, with a 53.83-second time in the women’s 100-meter freestyle at Japan’s national championships.
A nationwide survey conducted by Kyodo News found that only less than 40% of prefectural sports facilities have conducted staff training within the past three years on how to consider and accommodate disabled persons.
“Sports venues are places where people with and without disabilities can come together and enjoy [an event],” Yukishita said. “I want the Games to be the catalyst to bring about change, so people with disabilities will feel more comfortable going out more often.”
The World Grand Prix, an international five-player soccer tournament for the visually impaired, opened at Tennozu Park in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo on May 30th, where the Japanese men’s team beat France 1-0. Japan’s team has qualified to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics.
She finished the race in 26.32 seconds, against the Japanese female record of 24.21 seconds set by herself, coming first in her heat. “I’m so happy to finish first. I could really enjoy swimming,” Ikee said.
Concern has been raised that para athletes may be at more risk of severe outcomes if they contract COVID-19, and athletes with particular impairments need to take more stringent precautions to protect themselves.
Athletes seeking to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games next year and staff members are struggling to balance preparations to compete and measures against the novel coronavirus, officials at the Japanese Para-Sports Association have said in a recent interview.
Ikee was considered a contender for multiple medals at the now-postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but she was forced to put all swimming-related activities on hold to focus on treatment following her diagnosis.
Featuring 539 events across 22 sports contested at 21 venues, the Paralympic Games will take place in the Japanese capital city from 24 August – 5 September.
Barrier Free Japan