ブックタイトルFPCO English

概要

FPCO English

Society? A natural encounter between the two? The source of passionSato: It was about 10 years ago that I had theopportunity to meet you.Hosokawa: Yes, an acquaintance of mine introducedme to you.Sato: If I recall correctly, at that time you wereworking toward the Five Million People Torch Run forenlivening the Special Olympics* World Games in Nagano.Hosokawa: That’s right. I was working very hard withthe sole aspiration of successfully organizing Japan’s firstSpecial Olympics in 2005. This is a sporting event forathletes with intellectual disabilities and did not attractmuch public attention in Japan in those days.Sato: I remember that I was amazed by yourincredible vigor when I first met you. You had such incredibleenthusiasm about organizing the Special Olympics inJapan.Hosokawa: I wanted to make them a success. Ithought we should never keep those with disabilities outof the spotlight, so I worked hard with this as my stance.Thankfully, the Nagano games were ultimately a greatsuccess, so now they may attract some more attention inJapan.Sato: What initially inspired you to help peoplewith intellectual disabilities to become independent?Hosokawa: Nearly 2% of the population is born withan intellectual disability. I heard from a Christian priestthat God sends them as gifts to help people around themlearn about kindness and thoughtfulness, which are themost important qualities for humans. He added that theiroriginal potential would be prevented from blooming if wemerely protect and hide them, regarding them as poorchildren, incapable of anything. He stressed the need toprovide them with opportunities to display their capacity orpotential. I felt great empathy with his story. That coincidedwith my discovery of an article about the Special Olympicsin a regional newspaper in Kumamoto Prefecture. It told ofa girl from Kumamoto who competed in the eighth gamesin the US state of Minnesota. That piqued my interest.Sato: What did the story say?Hosokawa: A 10-year-old girl named Tomokocompeted in gymnastics and won a silver medal. I wassurprised that this wonderful child was from Kumamoto. Ifelt as excited as if I was watching the regular Olympics.* An international sports organization providing daily sporting programs and competitions as opportunities for displaying performance for the purpose ofencouraging independence and social participation of those with intellectual disabilitiesThe first Special Olympics Summer World Games took place in the US state of Illinois in 1968.Social Efforts46