An IPC delegation, led by vice-president Andrew Parsons and chief executive Xavier Gonzalez, travelled to the Japanese capital to meet with Tokyo 2020 officials - including representatives from the Japanese Olympic and Paralympic Committees, Tokyo and national Government, the Japanese Sport Association, Japanese Sports Council and national federations - to share information on the Paralympic Movement and its key objectives.

An overview of the sports, an introduction to inclusion and legacy opportunities and information on timelines were also discussed over the course of the seminar.

Meanwhile, the Tokyo representatives gave the IPC a venue tour of many of the sites that will host Paralympic competitions in 2020, and outlined their Paralympic vision and commitment to the Games.

Parsons came out of the seminar in positive spirits and extended a personal thank you to Japanese Paralympic Committee President Mitsunori Torihara.

"The three extremely productive days, which included the seminar and venue tours, are the start of a six-year long relationship and transfer of knowledge with the organisers which we hope will culminate with the staging of the best Paralympic Games ever in 2020," Parsons said.

"All members of the IPC delegation were impressed with the infectious enthusiasm and eagerness of those who attended the seminar to deliver a highly successful Paralympics and I would like to thank Mitsunori Torihara and all who were present.

"We look forward to a strong working partnership in the years to come.

"Between now and the Games, we have a superb opportunity to raise the profile of the Paralympic Movement in Japan and Asia.

"Through working with the organising committee and NHK, who will broadcast the 2014 and 2016 Paralympics, we are confident this can be achieved."

Mitsunori Torihara said the IPC Orientation Seminar was the first step of "what will be an excellent and productive collaboration between the IPC and Tokyo 2020" ©AFP/Getty Images




Torihara said the Orientation Seminar had been an "enormous help" as Tokyo continues its preparations for hosting the Games.

"It covered a wide range of topics about the tasks the Organising Committee will face during the next six years," he added.

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Andrew Parsons, Xavier Gonzalez and the fellow members of the IPC delegation for the outstanding quality of the seminar.

"The meetings we had during these two days were extremely fruitful and were the first steps of what I am sure will be an excellent and productive collaboration between the IPC and Tokyo 2020.

"Some 220 participants took part in the Seminar and we all learned a great many lessons about the challenges inherent in hosting the Paralympic Games.

"Throughout our preparations, we will exert our utmost efforts to further raise awareness of the Paralympics in Japan and to ensure that Tokyo delivers a Games that will serve as a platform to showcase and reinforce the Paralympic values of determination, inspiration, courage and equality.

"Following Tokyo 2020's success in winning the Games last September, this seminar acts as the starting gun to preparations for the Paralympic Games that will be staged in the city in six years' time.

"In 2020, Tokyo will become the first city to stage the Paralympic Games for a second time and, having seen what they presented in their Bid Book, Tokyo 2020 has the potential to be the best Games ever."

The Tokyo Paralympics will be staged from August 25 to September 6, 2020.

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