Daiki Hashimoto, a gymnast who won two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, was newly selected as the "symbol athlete" of the JOC = Japanese Olympic Committee, and the certification ceremony was held.
The JOC has established a "symbol athlete" system in which top-level athletes with the ability and name recognition in Japan are used for advertisements of sponsor companies, and the proceeds are used for strengthening competition groups.
JOC has newly selected two symbol athletes, Hashimoto, a gymnast who won two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, and Yuki Ishikawa, a volleyball player who contributed to the 7th place as the captain of the Japanese national team at the Tokyo Games.
A certification ceremony was held in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo on the 23rd, and commemorative illustrations depicting the athletes who became symbol athletes playing an active part in the Olympic Games were presented.
Hashimoto said, "I'm honored. I want to work as a symbol athlete to liven up the sports world."
Ishikawa sent a video message because he was on an overseas expedition and commented, "I want to win medals at the Paris tournament. I will grow up as a human being and as an athlete."
Speed skating Nao Kodaira and softball pitcher Yukiko Ueno continue to be selected as symbol athletes.