Dutch Paralympic Stars Back Tokyo 2016 Ahead of 2008 Paralympic Games
Tokyo, 5 September 2008 – Dutch Paralympians today joined the wave of international support for Tokyo
2016 as they completed final preparations for the 2008 Paralympic Games at a four day training camp in
Japan.
Both the Dutch Women's Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Team and the Women’s National Wheelchair
Basketball Team chose Amity Maishima in Osaka, a state-of-the-art sports facility for people with disabilities,
as the location for their training camps.
The venue is just one of many world-class facilities in Japan that provide the highest levels of accessibility.
The country's vibrant capital, Tokyo, is aiming to provide the Olympic Movement with an accessibility
showcase of excellence at the heart of the city in 2016.
Tokyo 2016 will build on Japan's record of meeting and exceeding the needs of elite athletes, providing
state-of-the-art sports venues developed around iconic city features. These will complement existing
facilities and play a central role in the greatest urban and environmental transformation ever seen.
Petra Westerhof, Dutch Women's Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Team Member said:
“Training in truly world-class sporting facilities has been amazing. Following this experience, I have no doubt that
Tokyo 2016 will be successful in its Bid to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The hospitality of
the Japanese people during our stay has been critical to our preparation and the Bid’s plan to integrate the Games around Tokyo’s beautiful and historic centre is something which I think is great,” she said.
John Bestebroer, Dutch Women's Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Head Coach said:
“The choice to come to Japan in final preparation for the 2008 Paralympic Games was an easy one. The Japanese people have been very helpful and welcoming, making our stay and preparation easy. I am behind Tokyo 2016’s Bid to host the Games and the Bid’s compact Games plan is something which is very important to the Paralympic Games,” he said.
Dr Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO of Tokyo 2016, said: “We are delighted to have hosted members of the Dutch Paralympic Team and are grateful for their support of our Bid. The top class facilities they have enjoyed are indicative of our fantastic sporting infrastructure and understanding of the needs of the world's greatest Paralympic athletes.
"Barrier-free public transport laws came into force in 2006, and by 2016 all the train stations in Tokyo will be
adopting a universal design. Even now the percentage of stations with textured paving blocks is as high as
96%.
"Tokyo 2016 will build on this platform by uniting the world around the most compact Games in Olympic
history, exceeding the requirements of all Olympians and Paralympians. I wish all athletes training in
Japan good luck for Beijing 2008 and hope to welcome them to Tokyo for the 2016 Games."
For further information, please contact:
Mihoko Nakagawa (Ms), Director, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, mihoko.nakagawa@tokyo2016.or.jp
Masa Takaya (Mr), Manager, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, masanori.takaya@tokyo2016.or.jp
2016 as they completed final preparations for the 2008 Paralympic Games at a four day training camp in
Japan.
Both the Dutch Women's Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Team and the Women’s National Wheelchair
Basketball Team chose Amity Maishima in Osaka, a state-of-the-art sports facility for people with disabilities,
as the location for their training camps.
The venue is just one of many world-class facilities in Japan that provide the highest levels of accessibility.
The country's vibrant capital, Tokyo, is aiming to provide the Olympic Movement with an accessibility
showcase of excellence at the heart of the city in 2016.
Tokyo 2016 will build on Japan's record of meeting and exceeding the needs of elite athletes, providing
state-of-the-art sports venues developed around iconic city features. These will complement existing
facilities and play a central role in the greatest urban and environmental transformation ever seen.
Petra Westerhof, Dutch Women's Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Team Member said:
“Training in truly world-class sporting facilities has been amazing. Following this experience, I have no doubt that
Tokyo 2016 will be successful in its Bid to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The hospitality of
the Japanese people during our stay has been critical to our preparation and the Bid’s plan to integrate the Games around Tokyo’s beautiful and historic centre is something which I think is great,” she said.
John Bestebroer, Dutch Women's Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Head Coach said:
“The choice to come to Japan in final preparation for the 2008 Paralympic Games was an easy one. The Japanese people have been very helpful and welcoming, making our stay and preparation easy. I am behind Tokyo 2016’s Bid to host the Games and the Bid’s compact Games plan is something which is very important to the Paralympic Games,” he said.
Dr Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO of Tokyo 2016, said: “We are delighted to have hosted members of the Dutch Paralympic Team and are grateful for their support of our Bid. The top class facilities they have enjoyed are indicative of our fantastic sporting infrastructure and understanding of the needs of the world's greatest Paralympic athletes.
"Barrier-free public transport laws came into force in 2006, and by 2016 all the train stations in Tokyo will be
adopting a universal design. Even now the percentage of stations with textured paving blocks is as high as
96%.
"Tokyo 2016 will build on this platform by uniting the world around the most compact Games in Olympic
history, exceeding the requirements of all Olympians and Paralympians. I wish all athletes training in
Japan good luck for Beijing 2008 and hope to welcome them to Tokyo for the 2016 Games."
For further information, please contact:
Mihoko Nakagawa (Ms), Director, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, mihoko.nakagawa@tokyo2016.or.jp
Masa Takaya (Mr), Manager, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, masanori.takaya@tokyo2016.or.jp