2019.22.01 Reception on the Occasion of the Visit by Delegation Members from the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport of Afghanistan Under the JENESYS2018 SAARC 2nd Batch Program

Reception on the Occasion of the Visit by Delegation Members from the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport of Afghanistan Under the JENESYS2018 SAARC 2nd Batch Program.

January 22, 2019: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to host a dinner reception in honor of the Visit by Delegation Members from the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport of Afghanistan Under the JENESYS2018 SAARC 2nd Batch Program, at the embassy’s Rumi Balkhi Hall. All of the Diplomats and staff were present to receive the honored guests for the evening’s festivities.

Over 40 guests from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), Secretariat of the Headquarters for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan’s Olympic Committee, Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS), and other private institutions joined the Afghan delegation members for the event. Special guests attending the event were Hon. Mr. Mitsuo Tsukahara, 5-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Japan Olympic Committee Executive Board member and Vice President of the Japan Gymnastic Association; Olympic Gold Medalist Mr. Haruki Uemura, President of the Kodokan Judo Institute and 9th Dan; and the 57th Yokozuna, Mr. Goro Ishiyama, Curator of the Sumo Museum, and Former Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association.

The evening’s Emcee Mr. Asif Agah, Second Secretary, welcomed each speaker to the podium to give their remarks. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat first began by thanking the people and Government of the noble nation of Japan for their most benevolent and gracious support over the years in the redevelopment of Afghanistan. Further in his speech he highlighted the wonderful works of international solidarity Japan’s governmental agencies such as JICE’s JENESYS Program enacting “unity between allies who recognize the worthiness in each other, collaborating together in different landscapes, towards the same objective. The most important of these objectives is aiding in the development of humanity to its highest level possible – towards universal and lasting peace.”

The other guest speakers were H.E. Ambassador Mr. Hiroshi Oka, Assistant Minister & Director General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau; as well as Special Representative to Afghanistan, at MOFA Japan who spoke particularly on the close ties between Afghanistan and Japan; Hon. Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami, President of the Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University Group and Chair of the Japan-Afghan Friendship Association who spoke particularly on his memories of his time in Afghanistan and her warm, charming people; Hon. Ms. Masako Kishimoto, Vice President of Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) who spoke particularly on the efforts of her organization to create solidarity; and Hon. Mr. Najibullah Sekandar, Executive Board Member and President of the Taekwondo Association of Afghanistan, who spoke particularly on what the participants of the program hoped to enjoy from this venture in Japan; and all of whom spoke on the unique and important opportunity of bridging the relations and cultures of Afghanistan and Japan through joint learning ventures such as those offered through the JENESYS Program as well as their hopes for a numerous and successful showing by the Afghan National Olympic team in next year’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

Following the remarks, all of the guests were gathered for a group photo after which they were invited to dine on the traditional Afghan cuisine which was carefully prepared by the Embassy in honor of the guests’ visit.

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