"We are delighted to greet the future ambassadors of Sport for Development and Peace, who demonstrate every day the incredible power inherent in sport, the critical role sport plays in inspiring the younger generation, and the indispensable link between sport, peace and development throughout the world," said Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

"We look forward to seeing all of them again in 2020 [when Tokyo hosts the Olympics and Paralympics]."

It will be the eighth UNOSDP-led Youth Leadership Programme since the first camp was run in Doha in January 2012.

The 30 participants of the programme will visit Ishinomaki to talk with member's of the NGO's responsible for the reconstruction of the area following the 2011 Tsunami, the immediate aftermath of which is seen here ©Getty Images












"We are delighted to be hosting our Youth Leadership Camp in Tokyo this year," said Wilfried Lemke, special adviser to the United Nations secretary general on Sport for Development and Peace, following a visit with Takeda.

"After the city's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, I can only see Japan's presence in the Sport for Development movement become more prominent.

"The Olympic legacy is still vibrant in Tokyo, and the participants of the camp will have the unique experience of using the facilities, still in daily use, from the Tokyo Olympics 1964."

Olympian volleyball player Kana Oyama took part in Olympic Festas held to inspire children in Tohoku ©Tokyo2020



Each programme looks to support youngsters who have shown a desire to support their communities through sport development, but have not had a platform to do so, by giving them access to theoretical and practical training needed to improve both their projects and their own professional progress, and by supporting them once they go back to their communities.

The Leadership Programme in Tokyo began with a workshop entitled, "Right to Play" at the National Olympic Centre.

During the programme, the participants will also visit areas affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami later the week, spending two days in the city of Ishinomaki where they will meet and exchange ideas with Japanese students and members from Non-Governmental Organisations engaged in reconstruction assistance.

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