The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tokyo is holding a commemorative exhibition for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games entitled “Olympic Heritage / Paralympic Legacy”.
This project will focus on the achievements of Anton Geesink, the Dutch judoka who won the gold medal in judo at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and the social legacy project Game Changer which promotes a better integration of people with an impairment through knowledge exchange between Dutch experts and Japanese sports clubs, schools and local governmental bodies in Tokyo by the Netherlands Olympic Committee and Sports Federation (NOC*NSF). The exhibition will feature photos, videos, special commemorative coins and memorabilia of the heated bouts and competitions of the time, as well as Mr. Geesink’s judo uniform, which is returning to Japan after 57 years.
It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Geesink’s victory in Japan, the birthplace of judo, accelerated the internationalization of judo in the following years. However, what will remain in people’s memories even more than that, and what will be handed down from now on, is the respectful manner in which Mr. Geeesink showed his opponents in the final match. It was an ideal image of a medalist that will serve as a model for future generations competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Please take this opportunity to view this project, which will provide an opportunity to think about the internationalization of sports and mutual understanding through sports.
Website: https://nlinjp.com/NL-Tokyo2020
The online tour of the exhibition is available on the official YouTube channel of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZngE-45BJpM
