UK Sport, the UK’s high performance sport agency, the Japan Sport Council, the National Agency for Sport in Japan, and the UK Sports Institute (UKSI), which provides support services to British Olympic and Paralympic sports, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The purpose of the MoU, which was agreed in 2013 and first renewed in 2016, is to establish a framework for co-operation between the Parties based upon the principles of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
The MoU is entered into with a view to further developing sport exchanges, information sharing and capacity building between the Parties (including for the first time around the societal impact through high performance sport) and to encourage enhanced cooperation between national sporting bodies. The parties will also consider undertaking joint initiatives utilising international (sporting) events as a focal point for collaboration.
Previous examples of collaboration through the MoU include British Athletics holding their training camp in Fukuoka ahead of the Beijing World Athletics Championships in 2015, Aquatics GB (formerly British Swimming) and Japan Swimming Federation developing a training partnership, and Japanese officials attending observer programmes in the UK ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The MoU has been signed by Katherine Grainger (Chair) on behalf of UK Sport, by ASHIDATE Satoshi (President and CEO) on behalf of The Japan Sport Council and by John Dowson (Chair) on behalf of UKSI.
The MoU will have effect for a period of four (4) years from the date of signing.
UK Sport Chair, Dame Katherine Grainger said: “UK Sport is immensely proud to have had an MoU with the Japan Sport Council since 2013, and it’s exciting to be renewing our commitment in Paris, during the Olympics.
"Since signing our bilateral cooperation agreement over ten years ago, we have seen many two-way exchanges, creating impactful partnerships between our organisations and our respective national sporting federations.
"While the pandemic temporarily put a stop to these two-way exchanges, I’m pleased they have now recommenced. This updated MoU will help to further shape and strengthen our relationship moving forward.
"I am also delighted by UKSI’s inclusion in our renewed partnership. The UK and Japan are both world leading in sport science and technology, so there is much that we learn from each other. The magical sporting moments we will witness in Paris would simply not be possible without the behind-the-scenes support services which enables sports and athletes to realise their potential.
More widely, the renewal of this MoU is a further demonstration of the UK’s commitment to working side-by-side with key likeminded international partners, such as Japan, to achieve a safe, fair and thriving international sporting system.”
The Japan Sport Council President and CEO, ASHIDATE Satoshi said:
“The Japan Sport Council is pleased to renew our partnership with UK Sport at Team Japan House during Olympic Games Paris 2024. We have brought various opportunities and benefits for our workforces, National Sport Federations, and our stakeholders based on our MoU over 10 years.
"We are also thrilled and excited to welcome UKSI into this MoU. The UKSI is a world-renowned institute which delivers world-class support services in the field of sport science and technology. In this excellent partnership, we look forward to bringing new opportunities extended for our practitioners and researchers, particularly in the area of performance health and Paralympic sport.
In this edition of the MoU, we are excited to work together to develop the new way of bringing additional value and benefit to life performance in society through high performance sport.”
The UK Sports Institute Chair, John Dowson added:
“The UK Sports Institute is grateful for the opportunity to be included in this special relationship. It’s exciting to be collaborating with another leading sporting nation. Like the UK, Japan is leading the way globally in sport science and technology.
We look forward to using the exciting opportunity presented by this MoU to engage further with the Japan Sport Council, including through the exchange of information and mutual capacity building.”