[“Play Academy with Naomi Osaka” Japan PR Secretariat] Approximately 400 people from Japan and abroad gathered for a 5-day “Week to Change Sports for Girls” to learn about issues surrounding girls and sports and think about solutions. -COACH THE DREAM-” held “Play Academy with Naomi Osaka” Japan PR Secretariat Press release: October 21, 2024 Approximately 400 people from Japan and abroad gathered to learn about issues surrounding girls and sports and to think about solutions for 5 days called “Week to Change Sports for Girls – COACH THE DREAM.” ~Naomi Osaka and others send messages to solve sports issues for girls~ Nike Japan Group LLC (hereinafter referred to as “Nike”) and the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation (hereinafter referred to as “Laureus”), which works to support children and young people around the world through sports, will hold an event from October 16th to 20th, 2024. “Week to change sports for girls – COACH THE DREAM -” was held in Tokyo. The purpose of this project is to discuss the issues surrounding girls and sports and the approaches to them and present solutions. The 5-day event featured athletes such as Naomi Osaka, who are currently active in the sports world, and delivered a unique sports experience. We also hosted discussions with domestic and international experts and athletes to promote understanding of the barriers girls face in participating in sports, and take action to bring about change for girls across Japan.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-e1bbbd654c827dcc0d167678a346e58b-2000×1467.jpg Laureus and Nike, an international organization dedicated to supporting children and young people through sports, together with Naomi Osaka, established Play Academy with Naomi Osaka (hereinafter referred to as Play Academy) in 2020. Through this initiative, we are focusing our efforts on the future of girls’ sports, including creating safe and secure sports spaces, training instructors, and providing grants to local community organizations, all of which are essential for girls to continue playing sports throughout their lives. I did. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of its establishment, Laureus and Nike will hold a 5-day “Week to Change Sports for Girls – COACH THE DREAM” from October 16th (Wednesday) to October 20th (Sunday), 2024. Approximately 400 people from Japan and abroad who were interested in the issue participated, including companies,
governments, media, sports organizations, NPOs/NGOs, athletes, and Play Academy partner organizations. Research shows that active children are healthier, happier, and more socially successful not only in school but throughout their lives. On the other hand, it is said that only one in five children around the world meets their physical activity needs. Girls, in particular, have even more limited opportunities to exercise due to the lack of female role models, the lack of coaches who are considerate and understanding of girls’ unique needs, and the lack of sports opportunities that meet girls’ needs. Japan, which ranks 118th out of 146 countries in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index, the lowest among developed countries, is no exception to the trend of girls withdrawing from sports. According to Japan Sports Agency statistics, 9.0% of elementary school boys and 16.2% of girls spend less than 60 minutes on physical activity per week. It was revealed that 11.3% of junior high school boys and 25.1% of girls (1 in 4). When girls reach junior high school, their time for exercise decreases, and the disparity between boys and girls is more than double. In this context, “Changing Sports for Girls Week -COACH THE DREAM-” aims to recognize the impact that sports have on girls’ emotional, social and physical development, and mental health, and to address barriers to their development. The five-day event aimed to change the social and cultural mindset of people living in Japan. Day 1: October 16th (Wednesday) Master Coach Training We conducted training to develop human resources to become master coaches (instructors for sports instructors), and a total of 15 people from not only Japan, but also South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia, participated in the training on “sports coaching that takes mental health and trauma into consideration.” I took the final training. This training has been held online five times since September of this year. At the final session, in addition to the lecture, participants interacted with each other, exchanged opinions, and conducted training through physical activities. Day 2: October 17th (Thursday) Welcome Dinner To enliven “Week to Change Sports for Girls – COACH THE DREAM,” we held a welcome dinner attended by approximately 50 participants from Japan and overseas. On the day, Nike Japan VP and General Manager Tetsuji Kobayashi gave a toast and welcomed the participants. In addition, Laureus Academy member Missy Franklin Johnson, who won five gold medals and one bronze medal at the Olympics as a competitive swimmer representing the United States, and Dai Tamesue, who is a Laureus Ambassador and has been active as a track and field athlete representing Japan. I attended as a guest and gave a greeting. While enjoying the meal, the participants talked and interacted about their own experiences through sports and the challenges surrounding girls’ participation in sports. Day 3: October 18th (Friday) Tokyo Summit On October 18th (Friday), we held the Tokyo Summit, which is the highlight of this project. In the morning session, two girls who are participants in the Play Academy and enjoy sports gave speeches on the theme of “Sports for Me.” He appealed to the joys and challenges of sports by sharing real-life stories, such as how his teammates and teachers helped him when he had a difficult experience while playing sports, and how sports provide an opportunity to connect with other people. .
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-5a89be6028f35c5c087b7cb1eeb4595d-2000×1174.jpg Panel discussion 1. From left: Laureus Kaho Shinohara, Miu Tanaka, Shione Seko, Toru Onzuka, Professor Kyoko Kuda Afterwards, panel discussion 1 was held on the theme of “Learning about barriers: “What should we think? Listen to the voices of girls.” Active athlete Miu Tanaka (baseball player, Yomiuri Giants), Shione Seko of Momoyama Gakuin University of Education, Toru Onzuka, who is active as a women’s basketball coach (former head coach of Japan’s women’s basketball team), and experts in the field of sports and gender. Professor Kyoko Kuda (Chukyo University), who teaches at the university, held a discussion about issues surrounding girls’ sports and how to solve them, while sharing her experiences.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-9c11cf798e7ca0f00f132ef34fc54e01-2000×1197.jpg Panel discussion 2. From left: Nike Vanessa Garcia Brito, Laureus Academy members Missy Franklin Johnson, Megan Bartlett In the second panel discussion that followed, the theme was “Action on Barriers: Toward a Future Where People Can Play Sports in Their Own Way” and featured Ms. Missy Franklin Johnson, an internationally active athlete and member of the Laureus Academy, and children and children. Megan Bartlett, founder of the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, an organization that supports organizations that use sport to develop young people, and Vanessa Garcia Brito, Nike VP and Chief Impact Officer, took to the stage. , we exchanged opinions. The content was rich in suggestions for girls to enjoy sports in their own way. In the afternoon session, Play Academies and Nike partners from around the country and abroad showcased their pioneering local efforts to empower girls through sport. From Japan, S.C.P. Japan, a general incorporated association that provides training and networking for instructors, Monkey Magic, an NPO that provides climbing classes for girls with disabilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Momoyama Gakuin University of Education, which supports women’s club activities in Osaka Prefecture. , GOALS Haiti, which provides soccer programs from Haiti, Beat the Streets Los Angeles, which provides wrestling programs from Los Angeles, USA, Nike partners, and case studies from Beijing Western Sunshine Foundation, which supports school sports in China. There was. Additionally, on the day of the event, a video created for this event was announced, and a joint action was held to encourage the spread of the video on SNS in order to “change sports for girls.” There was a huge response both inside and outside the venue, and the video has been viewed over 250,000 times on social media (as of October 20th).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-4ea0740c75419503e5aea63ac6437732-269×378.png “Instructor’s Guide to Encouraging Girls’ Participation in Sports” Announced
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-cb7f18dedc2ecb43de8c09e227a84c11-431×298.png Additionally, we have released the “Guide for Instructors to Encourage Girls’ Participation in Sports,” which summarizes ideas and tips for promoting gender equality in the sports field. This guide was created in response to the needs of the sports field, and provides information on what instructors should know and what they need to know so that girls can safely participate in sports and gain everything from sports. Based on this, we have summarized what kind of
“awareness” it is important to teach with in seven approaches. In order to encourage more children to participate in sports, we have received support from 17 organizations (as of October 20th) active in the sports and women’s fields in Japan, including the Yomiuri Giants and the Japan Basketball Association. Masu. [Video URL]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw44G4Pje4Y [Instructor Guide URL]: https://bit.ly/4e8giQK Day 4: October 19th (Sat) Girls Session Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-8ece3710842683a147852c5b49cda1b0-2000×1442.jpg Naomi Osaka (right) and Missy Franklin Johnson (left) answering questions from girls On the fourth day, we held a girls session. The session was attended by program leaders and coaches supported by Play Academy in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Osaka, Los Angeles, and Haiti, as well as 35 girls between the ages of 9 and 15, who played sports and pickleball. They experienced the joy of sports while moving their bodies with guest athletes such as Naomi Osaka and Missy Franklin Johnson. Furthermore, in response to questions from the girls, the guest athletes sent messages with their own experiences. The day’s session brought together Naomi Osaka’s sponsor companies and organizations, including Yonex. Day 5: October 20th (Sunday) COACH THE DREAM Instructor Training
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/146748/4/146748-4-430fbb2a312d1f0e4d015b6b66d9c526-2000×1344.jpg We provide not only lectures but also work, and provide training while moving your body On the final day, a training session was held on the theme of “Coaching that considers mental health and trauma.” A Japanese master coach who received training from the American coaching organization “Center for Healing & Justice Through Sports (CHJS)” serves as a lecturer and teaches at sports clubs, competitive organizations, and school extracurricular activities nationwide. Approximately 50 instructors and coaches received half-day training to provide a comfortable sports environment for children and athletes. Using neuroscience, the students were able to learn in a practical manner how to provide appropriate support that would make children playing sports feel comfortable and how to build positive
relationships with them.
Project name: “Week to change sports for girls – COACH THE DREAM -” Sponsored by: Nike, Laureus Sports for Good Foundation Cooperation: “Play Academy with Naomi Osaka” partner Date and time: October 16, 2024 – October 20, 2024 Participant : Approximately 400 people (Companies interested in the issue, governments, media, sports organizations, NPOs/NGOs, “Play Academy with Naomi Osaka” partner organizations, etc.)
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Laureus has proven that sport can change the world by harnessing the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and inequality in children, young people and their communities around the world. Currently, we support more than 260 programs in more than 45 countries and regions to use the power of sport to transform the lives of children and young people.
https://www.laureus.com/sport-for-good Nike (Social Community Impact Team) Nike’s Future of Youth Sport is a vision of an active and inclusive world where all children can participate in sport and play and reach their full potential. Together with community organizations, athletes, experts and employees, we are challenging the status quo and working to improve access to and experience of sport for all children. We promote quality coaching to break down social barriers to children’s access to sport and play and improve participation in sport, especially for girls. We believe that having a place where all children can be active and be themselves will lead to a fairer and better society. https://about.nike.com/en/impact Play Academy with Naomi Osaka “Play Academy with Naomi Osaka” (hereinafter referred to as “Play Academy”) is a program created through a partnership between Naomi Osaka, Nike, Inc., and the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation. We aim to transform the lives of girls by using play and sport, which have proven benefits throughout their lives, as empowerment tools that can help bridge the gender divide that persists in modern society. Lack of opportunities tailored to diverse needs, fewer female coaches and role models, and cultural barriers are just some of the many challenges girls face when participating in play and sport. To address these issues, Play Academy provides grants, capacity building and training opportunities to local community organizations to create fun, positive play experiences and safe and secure sports spaces. . We are also working to increase the number of coaches who have received gender-inclusive coaching training that takes into consideration the unique needs of girls, and to build a network. This program started in Tokyo (Metropolitan area) in 2020, and has since expanded support to Los Angeles, Haiti, and Osaka Prefecture. https://playacademynaomi.com/ja/