Information

On September 5th, 2024, during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Japan Sport Council (JSC) signed “Project Annex” agreement with five Canadian sport organizations at the Embassy of Canada in France. Signatories to the Project Annex include the Japan Sport Council and Own The Podium (OTP) representing Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN), and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC). This agreement aims to provide various international and professional development opportunities for staff in partner organizations of both countries. Based on this Project Annex, the Japan High Performance Sport Center (HPSC) , OTP, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario will also create workspaces at each facility to support the collaborative activities including staff exchanges, particularly in the areas of women's leadership in sports, Paralympic sports, and sports technology.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the following distinguished individuals: OTP CEO Anne Merklinger; CPC CEO Karen O’Neill; CAC CEO Lorraine Lafreniere; COPSIN representative/CSI Atlantic CEO Ken Bagnell; Sport Canada Deputy Director General Nathalie Nye; Embassy of Canada in France Deputy Head of Mission Nadia Burger; Embassy of Japan in France Ministre, Chef de Mission adjoint ANDO Yoshio; JSC Vice President KUKIDOME Takeshi.

OTP CEO, Anne Merklinger (left) and JSC Vice President KUKIDOME Takeshi (right)	From the left: The individuals in the photo are  Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Canada in France, Nadia Burger; OTP CEO, Anne Merklinger; JSC Vice President KUKIDOME Takeshi; and Chef de Mission adjoint at the Embassy of Japan in France, ANDO Yoshio

Comments by KUKIDOME Takeshi, JSC Vice President and HPSC High Performance Director
" JSC is very pleased to sign the Project Annex with Canada under our MoU during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, on cooperation focusing on ‘capability building of the next generation.’ As the landscape of high performance sport is rapidly changing, the development of the next generation is one of the most important challenges when we look into developing sustainable high performance sport system in the next 10 years. Canada is successful in women’s leadership development, Paralympic sports development, and use of technology in sport. Therefore, we look forward to creating and providing a number of opportunities for the next generation of leaders to learn and grow from each other in both countries. "

Comments by Anne Merklinger, OTP Chief Executive Officer 
“We are extremely excited to announce the importance of our new partnership based on our MoU with Japan Sport Council today. Representatives from Canadian sports organizations are here to show their commitment and support in this partnership. Signing this Project Annex on people development during the Paralympic Games at the Embassy of Canada highlights our strong commitment in this partnership. To support this partnership, we will create workspaces at OTP, CSI Pacific and CSI Ontario. We are open to welcome and support Japan at any time in any way. Canada is deeply committed to involve women and girls in sports and physical activities. This reflects the country's values of inclusion and accessibility. We thank everyone who has come to join us. This partnership is important to us, and we look forward to working together closely in the future.”

Speech by JSC Vice President KUKIDOME Takeshi	Delegates at the signing ceremony

●About MoU（2022）
New era in high-performance sport: five Canadian sport organizations extend partnership with Japan