One year to Tokyo Para, the influence of the new sponsor Corona, such as the reduction of sponsorship money, was 8:23 on August 23.
It will be one year in 24 days until the postponed Tokyo Paralympic Games.
It was found that about 20% of the 26 sports organizations were affected by the reduction of sponsorship fees from sponsor companies due to the deterioration of business performance due to the new coronavirus.
More than half of the Paralympic sports organizations fund more than 80% of the money used to strengthen athletes and promote the sport with sponsor sponsorship and national subsidies.
By the 20th of this month, when we asked all 26 domestic sports organizations about the current state of support from sponsors this year, about 20% of the total of 5 groups such as athletics and bicycles were affected by the reduction of the sponsorship fee etc. I found out that
Specifically, the sponsorship fee has been reduced by 3 organizations, the sponsorship fee reduction by 1 organization, and the contract termination by 1 organization.
It is said that most of these sponsor companies were in industries that were heavily affected by the demand for self-restraint due to viruses such as travel and clothing sales, and there were also organizations that reduced the cost by more than 3 million yen this year.
In addition, due to the influence of the virus, the tournament, which is an opportunity for PR for sponsors, has continued to be discontinued, and there is still concern over whether the competition group will be able to maintain the current contract until next year when the Paralympic Games are in full swing. ..
Some organizations are starting to move strategically
Due to the spread of the new coronavirus, some organizations are strategically moving to secure new support while some sponsor organizations have reduced their sponsorship fees.
Of these, the Judo Sports Federation, the Japan Visually Impaired Judo Federation, which has won 30 medals in the Paralympics, has had a contract with 15 companies so far, but the contract has been terminated or the sponsorship fee has been reduced. It means that they have not been treated.
However, as the spread of the new coronavirus continues to be affected, we began various efforts last month to secure new sponsors in order to prepare for a reduction in sponsorship fees.
Kunihiko Matsushita, general affairs manager of the Federation, is a company that is likely to read various materials and become a new sponsor, is expected to increase sales and profits even under the influence of corona, be positive in social contribution activities, representative We have listed 150 companies that meet the conditions such as having a headquarter in the candidate player's hometown.
Along with a document requesting assistance from 150 companies, an article was also mailed with an introduction if there were players with connections, but 39 of the 40 companies that responded so far said, I can't do that."
However, after negotiating with the other one company, they answered that they would consider supporting the athletes from the area where the head office is located.
Regarding this initiative, General Manager Matsushita said, “I think that it is an opportunity to find a new company that will support now because the number of companies that can support will decrease steadily just by waiting”.
On top of that, "I am happy that there was a company that was considering sponsorship. Some of the companies that refused support also sent me the message that "I will consider sponsorship in a little while." I would like to continue efforts to call for support."
Overcoming the risk of infection Keiichi Kimura
Tokyo Paralympic Games, swimming race ace, Keiichi Kimura (29) has to be in contact with people and things frequently because he is blind, and while always facing the risk of infection with the new coronavirus, it will be a gold medal in the next year's production. We are in full-scale training toward acquisition.
Kimura, who lost his eyesight due to illness at the age of 2, participated in the Paralympics for the third time in a row until the last Rio de Janeiro tournament, and was the ace of the Para-Swimming Championship, which won six medals for both silver and bronze. doing.
Kimura has continued to strengthen at the university of the United States since his adulthood, but due to the spread of the new coronavirus, the pool and the facility where he stayed were closed, which forced him to return to Japan on the way in March. ..
Furthermore, Kimura is completely blind, so he has to make frequent contact with people and things, such as touching the shoulders and arms of caregivers and groping for places for disinfectant and elevator buttons. At risk of infection.
Kimura is taking measures such as thoroughly disinfecting his hands, but he said, "If you do not touch it, you may not be infected, but you cannot live because you cannot live your life. Touching is the same as breathing by a visible person. It is unavoidable."
Still, aiming for the long-awaited gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics next year, in late July, a special pool that reproduces the environment of high altitude with low oxygen concentration is a special pool that competes for the top in the visually impaired class with rival Tomita Spaceman Training is in full swing, such as a training camp.
Kimura believes that holding the Paralympic Games is meaningful because the world is constantly fighting the threat of the new coronavirus.
Kimura said, "I think when the Paralympic Games are ready, it's the moment when the world moves towards peace. The Paralympic shows the potential of human beings, and it is exhausted by the new coronavirus. I think it will be a step toward starting a new society.”