ENOSHIMA, JAPAN – Members of the Philippines and Japan national sailing teams raced through the coastal waters of Enoshima last August 22 and 23 in what was dubbed as the Friendship Regatta.
The Philippine contingent, composed of four male athletes namely Ricky Awali Domingo (20), Jeanson Lumapas (15), Lester Troy Tayong (25), and Emerson Villena (26) accompanied by their coach Ms. Ma. Remedios Fidel, was in Japan from August 17-24. While there, they participated in a variety of training and goodwill activities that culminated in the above-mentioned two-day friendly sailing competition. Their visit was organized as part of the “Sport for Tomorrow” (SFT) programme launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2013.
The “Sport for Tomorrow” (SFT) programme is Japan’s international contribution programme towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. It aims to raise awareness on the value of sports participation and to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Movement to the world by: (1) encouraging international cooperation and exchange through hosting sports events and initiating sport-related projects; (2) establishing a system to foster international sports-related human resources by building up networks between the (International Olympic Committee) IOC, international universities and colleges, and the government; and (3) further supporting international Anti-Doping Efforts. Through the SFT programme, Japan hopes to be able to reach out to over 10 million people in more than a hundred countries, including developing countries, during the period leading to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Eagle News Service/Embassy of Japan)