The University of Tsukuba Educates Next Generation Leaders for International Sports World Long-Awaited Start of Japan's First International Sports Academy! Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies (TIAS) September 30 Entrance Ceremony

TSUKUBA, Japan, Oct. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, September 30, an entrance ceremony was held at the University of Tsukuba Main Hall for the Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies (TIAS) established in connection with the "Sport for Tomorrow" Program to popularize sports and the Olympic & Paralympic movement promoted by the Japanese government.

(Photo: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201510014217/)

At the opening of the TIAS which was also a landmark for the newly established Sports Agency, Hisashi Sanada, TIAS director and professor at the University of Tsukuba, voiced his expectations for TIAS students, stating, "The students themselves serve as the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I hope that they go on to become individuals who can achieve success on the world stage as next-generation global leaders." Quoting the words of Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games - "The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well" - Sanada stressed his support for the 18 TIAS students from 12 countries, including Japan, who attended the entrance ceremony.

Also present at the entrance ceremony, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Director Claudia Bokel and other distinguished guests. Ms. Bokel outlined the current activities of the IOC, such as anti-doping activities. She told the TIAS students, "We would like to see the students learn about the Olympic & Paralympic movement in the wonderful environment at the University of Tsukuba in order to become the next generation of leaders for the sports world. We hope that they do not forget that the TIAS program has a direct connection to the value of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as to the sport for tomorrow."

Speakers: Hisashi Sanada (TIAS Academy Director, University of Tsukuba Professor)

Claudia Bokel (IOC Member, Chair of the IOC Athletes Career Program Steering Committee)

Nick Fuller (Founder of EdComs.com and former Head of Education for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games)

Geert Hendricks (AISTS Project Leader)

Toshiaki Tanaka (MEXT)

Hidekazu Tanaka (TOCOG)

TIAS Website: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/