The “HEROs AWARD 2017” was held to honor social contribution activities by athletes! Who was crowned the prestigious first-ever HEROs of the Year?
Hello, this is PR Sunny-chan!
As 2017 draws to a close, year-end reviews across various fields are reaching their climax, with the announcement of the Buzzword of the Year and the Kanji of the Year.
Amidst this, from the world of sports, the award ceremony for the “HEROs AWARD 2017″—one of the pillars of the “HEROs Sportsmanship for the future” project (hereinafter “HEROs”)—was held on Monday, December 11, at Grand Hyatt Tokyo!
HEROs is a project launched in October of this year, with our own Hidetoshi Nakata as the founder, to create opportunities for athletes to play active roles for the future, for society, and for others.
One of its activities, the HEROs AWARD 2017, recognizes social contribution activities performed by athletes through sports during this fiscal year.
The photo shows the scene before the start; many athletes, celebrities, and sports officials were in attendance. Everyone seemed to be looking forward to seeing which activities were nominated for this inaugural award and who would be selected for the top prize, the “HEROs of the Year.”
The prestigious first HEROs of the Year award went to Tsuneyasu Miyamoto’s “Mali Most (Little Bridge).”
Mr. Miyamoto established and operates a sports academy in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where children from different ethnic backgrounds—including Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats—can attend.
“Mali Most (Little Bridge),” which aims to build trust between ethnic groups by providing children with the opportunity to enjoy sports together, was brilliantly crowned the HEROs of the Year for 2017.
Mr. Miyamoto expressed his joy, stating, “Sports have the power to educate children and give them dreams, and I believe athletes who can convey that are very important. I hope that Japanese athletes will have more and more opportunities to engage in such activities in the future.”
Detailed activity reports are also available via video.
Six activities were nominated this year
Other wonderful activities were also nominated.
◆ Takashi Toritani’s RED BIRD Project
~An initiative to collect shoes and stationery to deliver to underprivileged children in Asia~
◆ Angela Maki Vernon’s Ocean’s Love
~An initiative aiming for the healthy physical and mental development of children with intellectual disabilities through surfing, and the realization of a society where everyone can live comfortably~
◆ Hiroyuki Sakamoto’s Kokoro no Aozora Fund
~A project that visits children’s homes to interact through boxing, providing “emotional care” and employment support~
◆ Fukushima United FC’s Fukushi Marche
~Conducting sales and PR as “Fukushi Marche” during away matches~
◆ World Yuru Sports Association’s Yuru Sports
~An initiative that returns to the essence of sports—relaxation, enjoyment, and the release of surplus energy—and takes on the challenge of “creating new sports”~
Detailed activity reports are also available via video.
Athletes from various disciplines and celebrities participated as presenters
Presenters included Shingo Katori, who served as a judge, as well as Daisuke Uehara, Motoko Obayashi, Takuma Sato, Miho Nakai, and Ryota Murata.
Ryota Murata, who served as the presenter for Takashi Toritani, commented, “Congratulations. I have some activities of my own that I am involved in, albeit on a small scale, so this inspired me to continue those efforts.”
Many athletes attended, including HEROs founder Hidetoshi Nakata and Kosei Inoue. The venue was bustling with participants who gathered across the boundaries of their respective sports!
Through the speeches of the nominees and presenters, I was reminded once again of the “power of sports” and the fact that “there is so much that can be done through sports!” While athletes’ activities outside of their competitions are often unknown, I hope that the HEROs initiative will serve as a catalyst for social contribution activities through sports to continue expanding.
The activities of HEROs have only just begun; please look forward to our future endeavors!
