Rikkyo Educational Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), along with local governments, including Saitama Prefecture and Niiza City, to offer training camp facilities to Brazilian athletes competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Rikkyo Educational Corporation is an incorporated foundation that runs educational institutions, including Rikkyo University, Rikkyo Niiza Junior High School and Rikkyo Niiza Senior High School. The foundation has invited Brazilian Olympic athletes to use sports facilities on the Niiza Campus (located in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture) and other locations.

Rikkyo University has actively invited Olympic teams to use its facilities, in line with “Rikkyo Vision 2024,” a mid- and long-term plan the university adopted in 2014 in the run-up to the 150th anniversary of its founding in 2024. The plan calls for promoting the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The signing of the memorandum is expected to facilitate educational and research activities at Rikkyo schools because exchanges with Brazilian athletes and coaching staff will deepen students’ understanding about different cultures, while helping students learn more about the Olympics and inspiring them to participate in sports. It will also give students an opportunity to nurture their “ability to live in harmony with others,” a common educational theme shared by Rikkyo University and Rikkyo elementary, junior high and senior high schools.

The memorandum was also signed by Ota Ward, Chuo Ward and Koto Ward of Tokyo and Sagamihara City of Kanagawa Prefecture. The memorandum outlines which facilities would be offered to Brazilian athletes and the roles each signatory would play. Dates and other details of the training camps will be decided in future talks.