Invitation to the Founding Commemorative Symposium of the Research and Education Center on the Olympics and Paralympics

We are pleased to announce that we will hold a founding commemorative symposium of the research and education center on the Olympics and Paralympics at University of Tsukuba. We will invite frontline wheelchair softball players from the United States and Japan to discuss the development of wheelchair softball and how this sport can contribute to achieve inclusion in society. The symposium includes a coffee social where participants can talk to speakers as well as opportunities to play wheelchair softball. For more information, please refer to the attached flyer and the event outline below.

pdf:オリンピックおよびパラリンピックに関する研究教育センターシンポジウムFlyer

【About Wheelchair Softball】

Wheelchair softball is an adopted sport not only for people WITH disabilities but also for people WITHOUT disabilities. The major feature of this sport is that it allows diverse people to play together. In addition, active efforts are being made to become part of the Paralympic Games. From these backgrounds, we will consider the potential of wheelchair softball to accelerate an inclusive society and its possibilities of being added to future Paralympics.

Detailed information of the Symposium

Date: February 17, 2024 (Sat) 10:00~16:00

Venue: 5C213 Lecture Room and Facilities Around the Institute of Health and Sport Science of the University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba

Program (tentative):

1. Remarks on the establishment of the new center (Professor Satoshi Shimizu, University of Tsukuba)
2. Keynote: Theoretical Contribution to Adapted Sports Practice (Shinichi Nagata, Assistant Professor, University of Tsukuba)
3. 【Symposium】Possibilities and Issues on Wheelchair Softball (Brendan Dowens, President, National Wheelchair Softball Association; Naonori Saitoh, Masayo Shinoda, Reo Onuki, Hayashi Otani, and Osamu Hirai, Japan National Team of the 2023 Wheelchair Softball World Series; Shinichi Nagata, Assistant Professor, University of Tsukuba)
4. Lunch Break & Coffee Social
5. Trial session of Wheelchair Softball

Japanese-English interpretation will be provided on the day of the event.

The participation fee is free.

If you would like to participate, please register in advance from the link below.

https://forms.gle/S3xQS8mMDHotuXHY8

If you have any questions about this symposium or requests for assistance, please contact us at the following email address.

【Contact】

Research and Education Center on Olympics and Paralympics, University of Tsukuba

E-mail address: olypara.sympo.ut#gmail.com
*When contacting us, please change # to @ in our address.