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<\/p>\nThe Waseda Lecture Series has been held since 2017 and features leading sports experts as guests. The event is coordinated by University\u00a0Professor Saburo Kawabuchi (President of Japan Top League Alliance).
\nThis sixth lecture in the series was held on Monday, November 16. This lecture featured Daichi Suzuki, who is an Olympic gold medalist (backstroke, Seoul Olympics) and served as the first Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency for five years, before retiring on September 30, 2020.<\/p>\n
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A video message by Saburo Kawabuchi, the project\u2019s coordinator, was played before the lecture.
\nKawabuchi expressed his hopes for the Tokyo 2020 Games next summer, stating, \u201cIt is important for athletes and spectators to come together through the cheers of the crowd. I hope that the Tokyo 2020 Games, scheduled to be held next summer, will be held with adequate measures against COVID-19, allowing audiences to be present in person.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The theme of Suzuki\u2019s lecture was \u201cChanging Sports. Creating the Future.\u201d In the first half of the lecture, he spoke of his life as an athlete and his activities post-retirement. In the second half, he talked about his efforts as the first Commissioner of the Sports Agency and his thoughts on the future of sports.<\/p>\n
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Suzuki first participated in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. He was inspired to become an Olympic athlete at the urging of a coach during his second year in high school. Although only proceeding to the semi-finals in the individual events, he qualified for the finals of the 400-meter relay. The tension and pressure of the Olympics were extraordinary. Although Suzuki did not win a medal at his first Olympics, he realized he had a strong desire to win one the next time.<\/p>\n
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However, an injury unfortunately caused him to be bedridden for some time. This experience taught him the importance of dealing with injuries as an athlete.
\nSuzuki commented that recovering from this injury made him grateful for his good health. This change in mindset allowed him to train even harder and grow stronger. At the 1987 Universiade Games, he won gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke. Suzuki then went on to win a gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the following year\u2019s Olympics in Seoul. This was the first Olympic gold medal to be won by a Japanese athlete in 16 years.
\nAlthough there was a belief at the time that Japanese athletes could not win medals, he was able to do so because of his strategy, persistence, and the confidence that came from his daily efforts and training.<\/p>\n
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Suzuki commented, \u201cWhat made me even happier than winning the gold medal was that I made friends all over the world.\u201d He introduced the audience to the word \u201ccamaraderie,\u201d meaning friendship between like-minded people.<\/p>\n
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After retiring from athletics, Suzuki became a swimming coach at Harvard University. He also served on the Board of Directors at the World Olympians Association, was the President of the Japan Swimming Federation, and holds a doctorate in medicine. He has worked as both an instructor and researcher. He was also instrumental in the successful bid for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Suzuki commented that when he was an athlete, he thought only about himself, but he wanted to do something useful for society after his retirement.<\/p>\n
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He therefore served as the first Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency from October 2015 to September 2020.In the second half of his lecture, he used his own experiences to speak about the future of sports.<\/p>\n
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Suzuki spoke of how important it is for more people to participate in sports. His rationale behind this was that around 50,000 people die each year due to lack of exercise and that related health issues also lead to increased medical costs.
\nSuzuki mentioned that there are three ways to participate in sports: playing, watching, and supporting. Amongst the three, playing includes participating in sports as a competition, but also as a form of fun and leisure for both health purposes and for spending time with friends.
\nHe spoke of his desire to make this latter form of sports more widespread since it applies to more than just professional competitors. However, Suzuki commented that younger generations, in particular, are so busy with work and housework that it is difficult for them to find the time to participate in sports. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate sports throughout daily life (Sports in Life), such as during commutes or break time.
\nImprovements need to be made to the value and attractiveness of sports and to people\u2019s motivation to achieve this. For this reason, the Japan Sports Agency has been collaborating with actors who are not bound by more conventional thinking.
\nSuzuki spoke of his desire to use sports to drastically and dynamically change society and improve peoples\u2019 health. He emphasized that this should be the goal of sports.<\/p>\n
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The legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games, to be held next year, is clearly going to be \u201cSports in Life.\u201d Those in attendance were able to hear Suzuki\u2019s passionate hope that people will become inspired by athletes to engage in sports, which is why he wanted Japan to host the 2020 Games. Although the event has now been postponed, he said, \u201cCOVID-19 provides us with the opportunity we need to think about the significance of sports, which is the key to good health.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Suzuki ended his lecture using its title \u201cChanging Sports. Creating the Future.\u201d to express his thoughts regarding sports.<\/p>\n
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Lecture participants were able to gain valuable insights into his struggle to win the gold medal at the Seoul Olympics. He also spoke of the appeals of the Olympics from the unique perspective of an athlete.
\nSuzuki\u2019s passionate discussion about the role of sports in modern society left a strong impression on the audience. Listening to him talk about sports from his dual perspectives as an athlete and as the first Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency reminded us of the appeal and potential of sports. It also increased our hopes that the Tokyo 2020 Games would spread sports to more people.<\/p>\n
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Written by:\u00a0Hiroto Yamamoto, VIVASEDA Public Relations Department, Second Year Faculty of Political Science and Economics Student<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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