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Waseda University Send-off Party for Rio Olympics and Paralympics held (June 30)

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The Waseda University Send-off Party for the Rio Olympics and Paralympics was held on Thursday, June 30 in Lecture Room 109 of Building No.10 at Waseda Campus. Five Japan Team athletes attended, cheered on by about 400 students, teachers and fans as well as the university president, Kaoru Kamata. Everyone sang the Waseda cheering song “Konpeki no Sora” (Deep Blue Sky) and the athletes were interviewed by the cheerleaders. They asked about (1) their Olympic or Paralympic goals, (2) What they were looking forward to doing and who they wanted to meet at the venue (Olympic Village), (3) their message for Waseda students, and (4) their aspirations.

Next, Mr. Kamata shook hands firmly with the athletes and presented them each with a commemorative gift, a Waseda bear, as a lucky charm as he gave them some words of encouragement: “You athletes will demonstrate your Japanese spirit, your Waseda spirit, on the big stage of the Olympics and Paralympics, and test and break through your limits. The people of Japan and the world will be moved by the wonder of sport and the results of your self-discipline. Please perform to your full potential and inspire the world.”

Finally, everyone present linked arms and sang the Waseda University song so that the Waseda-related Olympic and Paralympic athletes could go off and give their best performance with a sense of pride in the University, and Cheerleading Club captain Takamasa Suzuki (School of Education, 4th Year) led a cheer for the five athletes. Please show your support for these Waseda athletes as they compete against the world.

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Athletes’ profiles, messages for Waseda students, and aspirations
  • Ayami Oishi
    Rowing, Lightweight Double Sculls

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Chubu Electric Power / Graduated School of Sport Sciences, 2014 / Rowing Club OG / Aichi Prefectural Sange Norin High School

“I have been able to develop to this point by learning from my wonderful fellow students within the rich environment of Waseda University. I really hope you will all take advantage of this ideal environment too. At Rio, I will seek to produce my fastest speed on the big stage of the Olympics, and will try my very best to win a medal. Please cheer for me!”

 

  • Namika Matsumoto
    Women’s Weightlifting 63kg Class

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ALSOK / Graduated School of Social Sciences, 2014 / Weightlifting Club OG / Chiba Prefectural Matsudo Kokusai High School

“Whenever I wear a Waseda t-shirt while competing abroad, people come up to me and ask whether I am a Waseda University sportswoman. This makes me realize how well known Waseda University is, even overseas. You are only a student for four years, but I hope you will treasure every moment of your university life. I, too, value the precious opportunity I have been given to take part in the Olympics, and will compete against the rest of the world for a medal.”

 

 

  • Keisuke Nozawa
    Track & Field, Men’s 400m Hurdles

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Mizuno / Graduated Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, 2014 / Athletics Club OB / Yamanashi Prefectural Koma High School

“The things I have learned from my studies at the School of Sport Sciences are directly related to the improvement of my own athletic ability, and have been a great help to me. I hope other Waseda students too will all find something you really want to do, and spend your four years at university wisely. On the real stage of Rio, I will do my upmost to live up to the expectations of everyone supporting me.”

 

 

  • Satomi Kubokura
    Track & Field, Women’s 400m Hurdles

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Niigata Albirex Running Club / 1st Year Master’s, Graduate School of Sport Sciences, 1st Year, Elite Coaching Course / Fukushima University / Hokkaido Asahikawa Kita High School

“I’ve only been at Waseda University for about half a year since starting my graduate course in April, so I still need a map to get around! I’m struck again by how wonderful it is to see students studying diligently, whatever their field of study. I want to do my very best too, together with my fellow students.

Rio will be my third appearance at the Olympics. “Third time lucky”, as they say, so I hope I put in a performance I can be pleased with.”

 

  • Koyo Iwabuchi
    Table Tennis

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Waseda University Table Tennis Club / 4th Year, School of Education / Waseda Jitsugyo High School

“I am very grateful for the support of the many Waseda University Table Tennis Club alumni and others that has enabled me to compete. I believe this kind of network is one of the virtues of Waseda, and I hope all you other Waseda students will nurture your own networks too.

There are still very few opportunities to watch para table tennis, so my aim is, through my own activities, to show people its attraction and get them interested in the sport.”

 

Japan Team athletes linking up with University President, Kaoru Kamata with the Waseda “W” sign

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