Peace, victory at the heart of ASICS origami-themed kit for Refugee Paralympic Team at Tokyo 2020
One of the world’s most courageous
sports teams will be wearing a kit at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with a
special Japanese origami design, fitting as it is a symbol of peace and
victory.
ASICS is the official supplier of the
International Paralympic Committee and the official sport apparel kit provider
outfitting the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT). The six athletes of the RPT have
all had to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to participate in one of the
world’s largest sports events – the Paralympic Games.
The kit was unveiled by two Syrian
refugees living in Greece: Alia Issa, the youngest member and first ever female
on the Refugee Paralympic Team, and swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein, who lost his
leg in a bomb blast during the war in Syria. Athens is now home for both of
these athletes. Yorgos Kyvernitis, who photographed the refugee crisis in
Greece extensively back in 2015, used the ancient Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
as the backdrop for the launch of the ASICS uniforms.
The origami inspired design by ASICS
represents one of the most traditional art forms of Japan. It features a series of colourful lines that
come together and fold into one on a brilliant white canvas alongside the IPC’s
red, blue and green Agitos symbol for Paralympic Movement. The concept for
these items has been dubbed “JAPONISM™” by ASICS and is meant to express the
power and pride of the team blending the Japanese sense of beauty with the
latest technology.
The Refugee Paralympic Team will be
the first team to march in the Athlete Parade at the Opening Ceremony of the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on August 24.
“It is an awesome feeling to be
wearing the colours of this team. Well
actually we’re not a team, we’re a family and we all feel a kinship to one
another,” said swimmer Al Hussein who will compete in the 100m breaststroke and
50m freestyle events. He adds, “Getting
on that medal rostrum will be tough but us being in Tokyo is a victory for the
82 million displaced people around the world just like us who have had to flee
their homes.”
“It’s a dream come true for me to don
this uniform,” added teammate Issa, who competes in the unique Para athletics
event known as club throw. “When other
female refugees see me at the National Stadium in Tokyo, I want them to see
there is hope.”
The photographer Kyvernitis can
relate to what Issa is saying.
“When the refugee crisis was at its
worst here in 2015, I saw devastating images through my lens. Ibrahim and Alia are showing another angle
and the impact refugees can have around the world if they’re just given a
chance.”
ASICS Chairman and CEO Motoi Oyama
said: “We are proud to be able to support the Refugee Paralympic Team at the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games. Their courage and determination give dreams and
hope to people around the world. ASICS was founded upon a belief in the
positive power of sport to society.
Through our commitment to the RPT and our sponsorship of the Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Games, we aim to contribute to the IPCs ambition to realise a truly
inclusive society through Paralympic sport.”
There will be a press conference for
the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Main Press Centre on Monday 23
August at 12:30
For more information on the Refugee
Paralympic Team see https://www.paralympic.org/refugee-paralympic-team
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