The leading sports goods manufacture, along with the previously announced sponsors, Asics, Descente, JTB and Kinki Nippon Tourist, will be hoping to bring the Games back to the Japanese capital for the first time since 1964. 

The latest deal is no real surprise as the Tokyo 2020 chief executive Masato Mizuno was the President of the company founded by his grandfather in 1906 for 23 years until he stood down in 2011 to concentrate on the Olympic campaign. 

Masato Mizuno was the President of Mizuno Corporation for 23 years until he stood down to lead Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics

When he stepped down, Mizuno was replaced was by his younger brother, Akito. 

"Sport has the capacity to energise people and bring smiles to our faces," said Akito Mizuno.

"At the London 2012 Games, great athletes demonstrated immeasurable courage and provided inspiration.

"I firmly believe that Japan will be revitalised if our nation hosts the Olympics and Paralympics nearly half a century after Tokyo hosted the 1964 Games.

"In order to realise our dream to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mizuno Corporation looks forward to sharing our experience to support the Bid Committee, and will do anything possible to help bring the 2020 Games to Tokyo."

Mizuno supplied the uniforms for Japan's team at London 2012 and were prominent as athletes backed the Tokyo 2020 bid during the Games

Mizuno is a long-time sponsor of Japan's Olympic team, including at London 2012, where the team finished 11th overall with a total of 38 medals, including 11 gold. 

Mizuno was also the official supplier of uniforms to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at London 2012 and this deal was announced to coincide with the one-year to go countdown until the host city for 2020 is announced.

Tokyo will face rivals Istanbul and Madrid at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on September 7.

"With one year to go until the host city election, I am delighted to introduce a new official bid partner," said Tsunekazu Takeda, an IOC member and President of Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC). 

"Mizuno Corporation has enthusiastically agreed to become an official bid partner and help promote our campaign on behalf of this dynamic city.

"Mizuno Corporation with more than a century of experience, is a perfect example of Japan's innovative entrepreneurship.

"I sincerely thank Mizuno Corporation, and look forward to collaborating closely with them, as well as with other future partners who share our vision."

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