Overview

This event celebrates the Olympic and Paralympic values through sport. We offer you a team relay race and fun sporting activities, whilst bringing together Scottish and Japanese Culture ahead of Tokyo 2020. During registration and the relay race, there will be interactive stalls where you can learn more about the Olympic and Paralympic values, International Women’s Day, interact with current and previous Olympic and Paralympic athletes and much more!

Background Information

This event first started in Japan with the help of the University of Tsukuba and has since been successfully run worldwide. For example in Kenya, Brazil, Uruguay, and Qatar. As a result of their success, we are bringing this incredible event to Europe for the first time! Celebrate and build up to the Olympics and Paralympics in Japan at the University of Stirling, the UK’s Sport University of the Year 2020.

Relay Race Details

This relay race will be 1-hour long and ran at the University of Stirling's athletic track. Teams consist of seven runners, each running for one of the seven values. The objective for the teams is to run as many laps around the track as they can within the 1-hour time period, while passing on a tasuki (Japanese cloth sash). When signing up you can let us know who you would like to run with and will be made into a team of 7 with other participants. If there are 7 of you that want to run on the same team, then you may do so as well. All we ask is that you bring a coloured T-shirt that corresponds to the value that you want to run for. We will provide bibs for you to indicate which team you are on. At the closing ceremony, every runner will be handed a very special 'Nanairo' award certificate and the three teams with the most laps will receive cool prizes.

Sport Activities

The activities conducted after the race has finished are Boccia conducted by Forth Valley Disability Sport , Super1s Cricket conducted by CricketScotland, a Highland Games activity conducted by Bridge of Allen Highland Games and unique Japanese activities, such as Takkyu volley and NewMo, which are accompanied by an anti-doping activity and conducted by the University of Tsukuba (Japan) itself. Apart from the Highland Games, all activities will be conducted inside the University's tennis hall. These events are designed to be accessible for everyone to take part, no matter their ability!

The relay race teams will be split into four groups and will rotate between each of these activities, spending approximately 30 minutes at each station.

You do not want to participate in any more sport that day and wonder what to do until the closing ceremony starts? Don’t worry, we got you! At 3pm, our Art curator will conduct a 70-minute tour around the beautiful campus of Stirling University, showing you both Japanese and local art. And don’t miss your chance to join our crash-course Japanese that will be run simultaneously to the sport activities- learn the basics of Japanese that every sport fan must know before Tokyo 2020 commences.

Stalls & Speakers

During registration and the team relay race, There will be a variety of stalls that you and your supporters will be able to interact with. Each of the four organisations that are conducting the sport activities will have their own personal stalls. Why not pay them a visit and learn more about what is going on in Stirling? The University of Tsukuba will have Japanese activities such as origami, Daruma drawing, Hashi Okashi (a chopstick-obstacle race where you can win Japanese sweets), and your chance to play a Koto (Traditional Japanese instrument). On top of that, we will have stalls where you can meet Olympians, Paralympians and many more!

Before the Relay Race begins, our special speakers will go over the values of the Olympics and Paralympics as well as touch on the impact of Women in Sports (as 8th March is International Women's Day). You will also meet our special guests, such as Dr Taeko Seki, the founder of Japan Scotland Association (Tokyo, Japan) and Mr. Tekashi Sasaki, a diplomat from the Japanese consulate in Scotland.

What To Bring

We would like you to be responsible for wearing a T-shirt colour that corresponds with the Olympic/Paralympic value you would like to run for:

We also recommend bringing a change set of clothes in case of poor weather, along with food and water. Snack and hot drinks can be purchased in the café at the Sports Centre (Directly next to the track). Lockers in the Sports Centre will require a £1 coin should you wish to put personal items in a locker inside. More lockers will be available inside of the changing room/toilets in front of the gym, but for those you will need to bring your own lock. Please note that the responsibility for your belongings is solely up to you. We are NOT liable for any damages to or loss of your equipment.

Free parking is available all over the campus. There is accessible parking directly next to the track, at the Institute of Sport building.

Event Schedule

12:15pm-1:00pm - Arrival and registration

1:00pm-1:30pm - Opening ceremony and warm up

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Ekiden relay race and stalls

2:30pm-3:00pm - Speakers / transitional period

3:00pm-5:00pm - Sporting activities

5:00pm-5.30pm - Closing ceremony and certificates

As the objective of the event is to promote inclusion rather than performance, we strongly encourage people of ALL abilities, sexes, ethnicity and age to participate. If you need any additional help on the day of the event, please let us know during sign up and so we can will plan accordingly.

Sign up now and be a part of a unique event, whose kind has never been run in Europe before. For more information and updates on this event, like and visit our Facebook page