Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman’s Statement on Postponement of Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Kensuke Iwabuchi, Chairman of Japan Rugby Football Union

To bring the COVID-19 spread into an end as quickly as possible should be our top priority at the moment and my belief is that the Olympic postponement decision was made in the same spirit. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacles and ultimate goal for thousands of athletes, and we need to provide thorough care more than anything to support the mental health of our players and staffs, who have been dedicated themselves to this summer.

The Japan national Sevens Teams have their team philosophy; “make the cherry blossom bloomed”. Now is the time for the teams and us to embody it in the continued road to the Olympics and contribute to add value to the Olympics further.