Until the opening of Tokyo Para 6 months 95% or more of competition groups

Until the opening of Tokyo Para 6 months Athletic group 95% or more Uneasy about income decrease after the competition

The opening of the Tokyo Paralympics is 25 days and half a year. According to a survey conducted by NHK on Paralympic sports organizations, while sponsors' money has increased significantly, they are worried about the expected decrease in subsidies and sponsors after the tournament. It turned out that the group accounted for more than 95%.

NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of all 26 sporting organizations in Japan in the six months before the opening of the Tokyo Paralympics in August.

Among them, at least half of the organizations found that subsidies from the government and sponsors accounted for more than 80% of their income.

When asked about the number of sponsors, all of the 17 respondents showed an increase before the Tokyo Paralympic Games.For example, there were two competitions on para-land in FY2013 before the decision to bid for the Tokyo Games. However, the number of goal ball groups jumped from 14 to 27 this year.

When asked about the expected reduction in subsidies from countries after the Tokyo Games, all 26 organizations answered that they were "a little anxious" or "very anxious". In addition, 96% of organizations said they were worried about the decrease in sponsors.

When asked about the anticipated impact of a decline in revenues, the most likely reduction was in operational structure, followed by a weakened athlete enhancement, stagnation in dissemination activities, and a worsening competitive environment, which could have a wide range of effects. I understand.

Competitors said that after the Paralympic Games, they would return to their original state after the end of the Paralympic Games, that the world's heat would cool down, and that the dispatch of athletes to international competitions and the holding of domestic competitions would also be threatened. A series of voices complaining of a sense of crisis.

According to Noriaki Fujita of Nippon Welfare University, which is familiar with the Paralympic sports organizations, "The parasports organization has a small competition population, is weak in organization and needs subsidies and sponsors. On the other hand, if the groups only get money, Not only is it good, but sharing the vision of the future, such as the significance of competition, with companies and other companies will lead to financial support after the Games. "

A sense of crisis after the tournament

NHK's questionnaire survey was conducted for all 26 sporting organizations in Japan, and it became clear that there is a sense of danger to the reduction of subsidies and sponsors from countries expected after the tournament.

When asked about our income this year, we found that at least half of the organizations were subsidized by the government and sponsored by more than 80%.

Of these, the Judo Federation of the Visually Impaired, the Table Tennis Association of the Physically Handicapped, the Japan Sports Federation for the Disabled, and the Japan Federation of Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities make up almost all of their income from these grants and sponsorships. I answered.

When asked about the number of sponsors, all 17 organizations that were able to compare with the 2013 level before the bid for the Tokyo Games were increasing before the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Among them, the Japan Para-Athletics Federation was two in 2013, but this year the number has increased to 27, the Japan Goalball Association has increased from 0 to 14, and 9 organizations have increased from no sponsor was doing.

When asked about the expected reduction in subsidies from countries after the end of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, all 26 organizations replied that they were "a little anxious" and "very apprehensive".

In addition, 96% of the organizations said that they felt uneasy about the decrease in sponsors, except for the Japan Para-Volleyball Association, which only said they did not.

When asked in multiple answers about the expected impact of a decrease in income, the management structure was reduced most frequently at 24 organizations, followed by weakening of athlete reinforcements by 22 organizations, stagnation of extension activities by 14 organizations, and Deterioration was found to be 13 groups, and the impact could be widespread.

Athletic organizations said that the Japan Disabled Canoe Association said, "The administration of the secretariat would be difficult and everything would be stopped." Anxiety over management and human resources '' and the Japan Table Tennis Federation for the Intellectually Disabled said, `` Dispatching of players to international competitions and holding of domestic competitions are also at risk. '' Concerns about the spread were repeated.

Regarding the decrease in sponsors, the Japan Federation of the Mentally Disabled Swimming said, "If the Paralympic Games are over, they may return to their original state." The image will not be felt after 2020 '' and the Japan Swimming Federation for the Physically Disabled said, `` Decrease in awareness of the competition will make it difficult to continue strengthening and spreading, as sponsors will move away from sponsors due to reduced awareness of the competition. '' There were many voices calling for a sense of danger later.

"You can't do it with volunteers"

Before the Tokyo Paralympic Games, while the number of subsidies and sponsors from the government and others has increased significantly, the Japan Association of Disabled Canoeers has shown a sense of danger in the expected decrease in income after the Games.

NHK's questionnaire said that the secretariat would be difficult to operate and that everything would stop.

Since it was originally an enthusiast's organization, there was no subsidy from the government until the official competition at the last Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games, and the company has been operating with hundreds of thousands of yen of annual membership fees.

However, grants for the Tokyo Paralympics amounted to about 23 million yen this year, and the number of sponsors, which were zero before the decision to bid for the Tokyo Games, increased to three, until grants and sponsorships accounted for 96% of income became.

Due to the increase in income, I was able to rent a boathouse dedicated to storing canoes in Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture for the first time, strengthening the players and enhancing the excavation system.

In addition, the management system has also changed dramatically, and the chairman had been working alone at home, but four years ago, he hired a new secretary general and worked full-time at the office opened in Tokyo. You can get it.

When I visited the office, the secretary general, Ms. Hiroko Kamioka, worked alone to improve athletes, such as meeting meetings and training camp planning, as well as accounting for transportation expenses and accounting documents. Was.

At a dissemination event held earlier this month at a commercial facility in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, the booth was set up, calling for the acquisition of members.

However, if subsidies and sponsorships decrease after the Tokyo Paralympic Games, it will be difficult for Mr. Kamioka to continue his employment, raising concerns that it could have a significant effect on strengthening athletes and promoting sports.

Mr. Yoshiro Yoshida, Chairman of the Japan Disabled Canoe Association, has raised a sense of crisis saying, "The money movement has changed dramatically in recent years. Without Mr. Kamioka, I think the association will be destroyed."

Mr. Kamioka says, “I can do it now because I have money, but I can't take responsibility until I volunteer. I'm worried about what will happen to the players and the competition that I worked hard to expand if the association disappears.” I was talking.

Secure stable financial resources

Some organizations seek to secure a stable financial source by highlighting the future benefits of the sponsoring company.

Sitting and playing volleyball competition organization, Japan Para Volleyball Association. The only questionnaire responded was "I am not worried" about the decrease in sponsors.

Chairman Yoshihisa Mano, who also serves as the women's representative director, says the current situation is "a dreamlike situation and a so-called bubble."

Subsidies from the government and private foundations increased to about 47 million yen this year, and the number of sponsors increased from one before the Tokyo Games bid decision to 13 this year. Until now, the cost of strengthening players was about 50 million yen per year, but the increased income has made it possible to cover transportation expenses for training camps that were paid by the players.

In addition, it is now possible to enhance the game environment and strengthen players by purchasing about 100 new official Tokyo balls. Some players from Japan said, "We used to cut down on savings and pocket money before, but it became very easy economically" or "We have an environment where we can concentrate on our own play." .

However, since the Tokyo Paralympics, Mr. Mano anticipated that the subsidy will decrease, and has focused on acquiring sponsors such as companies.

It is emphasized that since the Tokyo Games, parasports may spread as a “lifelong sport” that can be enjoyed by children and the elderly, and there is also a merit for companies with customers of various ages. is.

At a meeting with the sponsor, Chairman Mano suggested to foreign-affiliated life insurance company, PGF Life, "Isn't it possible to conduct finance and insurance classes together with the association's school's sitting volleyball classroom?" . On the other hand, the person in charge seemed to be feeling the benefits of going to school through the association rather than a single company.

On the other hand, he told Nomura Holdings, a major securities company, his vision to spread sitting volleyball as a lifelong sport to an aging society. On the other hand, the company said, "I think that it is different from the business right now, but I hope that the stage will be connected to the business in the future and I hope that the association's vision will be supported. I would like to consider the continuation of the future positively. "

Chairman Mano has promised ten years of continuity with the 13 sponsors, and believes that by appealing to companies for future benefits, it will be possible to secure stable financial resources continuously.

"As parasports mature as a sport, I believe that the companies that we have supported from the beginning will enhance our image and lead to a win-win relationship with each other. Years and 100 years from now, it's because we're being sponsored to think about the merits of 100 years from now, we're going to be playing in 2020 and beyond. "