20% of para-athletes “leave sponsors” Corona's performance deteriorates June 11 14:51

About 20% of the Tokyo Paralympic sports organizations have been reduced their sponsorship fees or are being asked to reduce the costs because of the worsening performance caused by the new coronavirus.

Many Paralympic sports organizations lack their own financial resources, and more than half of them fund more than 80% of the money they use to strengthen their athletes and promote the sport with sponsor sponsorships and national grants.

By the 4th of this month, when we asked all 26 domestic sports groups about the current state of support from sponsors this year, five groups, about 20% of the total, such as athletics, wheelchair basketball, and bicycles, had their sponsorship reduced, I was told that I was being asked to reduce the price, and some of them even ended my contract.

It is said that many of these sponsor companies cited the deterioration of business results in industries where the demand for self-restraint due to viruses, such as travel and clothing sales, was large.

This means that each group will lose about 2 to 5 million yen this year.

In addition, one of the sponsors of the bicycle competition organization is also supporting the Olympic Games, and with the postponement of the Tokyo Games for one year, they announced that they would reduce the sponsorship fee as they would like to concentrate on supporting the Olympic games. .

The tournament, which is an opportunity for PR for the sponsors, has been cancelled, and there is growing concern among the sports organizations as to whether they can maintain their current contract next year when the Paralympic Games are in full swing.

Voice of anxiety from the competition group

There are concerns from the sports organizations whose sponsorship fees have been reduced, as they may affect activities such as strengthening athletes and promoting sports in the future.

The Japan Para Athletics Federation, one of the athletics organizations expected to win many medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, has increased from two companies to 24 companies before the tournament was held. The total amount of sponsorship money has reached about 50 million yen.

However, due to an offer from a sponsor company whose business performance has deteriorated due to the new coronavirus, the sponsorship for this year is expected to be reduced by about 5 million yen.

The sponsorship accounts for nearly 80% of the funds that the Federation can use freely, so if the sponsors move further away in the future, it will not be possible to secure tournament operating costs and staff personnel costs, etc. This is a situation that could affect the spread.

Furthermore, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, if we are unable to hold Japan's highest peak tournament, which is scheduled for September, we will lose the opportunity to publicize the sponsor, and we are concerned that further reductions may be possible.

In addition, since most of the sponsorship contracts will end this year, it will be necessary to renew it for the next fiscal year, when the Paralympic Games will be in production.In the future, if the performance of the company deteriorates due to announcement of financial results, etc. I am worried about this.

For this reason, the Federation wants to prevent the sponsor from leaving by planning a PR meeting the needs of the company.

Tetsuya Koyama, a spokeswoman for public relations, said, ``We've been increasing the number of people to respond to the Para Games for the Tokyo Games as the attention has increased and the number of jobs has increased, but if the sponsorship fee decreases, we have to decrease the number of people The sponsor company also has employees, so I think it is unavoidable to reduce the amount, but I do not want to reduce the scale and return to the old para competition, so I will discuss it with the company and support it. I want to continue."

Expert “Special meaning different from the Olympics Corporate side should be aware”

Professor Noriaki Fujita of Japan Welfare University, who is studying the relationship between parasports and society, said, ``Originally, Paralympic sports organizations have few members, and they rely on national subsidies and sponsor sponsorship. There is a structural problem that cannot be avoided.The relationship with the sponsor is still short, and it is not a thick pipe like professional sports, so the new coronavirus makes it difficult to see the future I think there are many groups."

In addition, regarding future sponsor support, ``paying money for parasports is not just cooperation to strengthen athletes, but a special meaning different from the Olympics, which is to contribute to the creation of a symbiotic society and a society that recognizes diversity. It is necessary for the sports organization to fully understand the significance of their existence and to appeal to them, and to make the company aware of being a partner who creates a better society through sports.”