By Duncan Mackay

Yuko Arakida_with_Mr_Mizuno_Tokyo_January_2012February 1 - Yuko Arakida, a member of the Japanese volleyball team that won the Olympic gold medal at Montreal in 1976, has been appointed as the sports director of Tokyo 2020, it was announced today.


Arakida, who is also the chair of the Athletes' Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), is expected to play a leading role in the bid by the Japanese capital to bring back the Olympics to the city for the first time since 1964 and which faces opposition from Baku, Doha, Istanbul, Madrid and Rome.

"I am extremely excited for this opportunity," said the 57-year-old Arakida.

"I have long held the utmost respect for the Olympic Movement, especially following my outstanding and memorable experience at the 1976 Montreal Games.

"I quickly realised that the Olympics is no ordinary event: it is a special celebration, where not only athletes, but the entire world can come together.

"I will communicate with the International Federations to the fullest extent in order to understand their needs, ultimately allowing me to better plan and implement ideas for Tokyo 2020."

Arakida is one of Japan's greatest-ever athletes. 

She was a member of Japan's gold medal-winning teams at the 1974 FIVB World Championship in Mexico and the FIVB World Cup 1977 in Japan, as well as in Montreal. 

Yuko Arakida_Copenhagen_2009
Arakida also played a leading role in Tokyo's unsuccessful bid to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, serving as the vice-chair of the bid's Athletes' Commission and addressing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Copenhagen in 2009 during the final presentation.

"Yuko Arakida is a renowned former athlete and global ambassador of the Games," said Masato Mizuno, the chief executive of Tokyo 2020.

"Along with her experience and expertise, the Tokyo 2020 team is united as a collective team, determined to bring the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Tokyo." 

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