Toyota today announced that it
has partnered with The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic
Games (Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee) to become the Presenting Partner of the
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay.
Through the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Torch Relay partnership, the company aims to bolster excitement for the
Games and also empower people across Japan including disaster-affected areas by
expressing gratitude towards its stakeholders and deepen relationship with
local partners through activities such as a campaign to recruit torchbearers, the
torch relay itself, and related events. As official mobility partner, Toyota will
also take part in the Olympic Torch Relay with vehicles providing the lead car
and showcasing exciting new mobility technologies.
Toyota’s current Executive
Vice President Mitsuru Kawai was appointed as a torchbearer at the Olympic
Winter Games Nagano 1998 as one of the representatives of the company. Reflecting on the significance of the Olympic Torch,
Kawai said: “The Torch represents the spirit of Olympism. I remember feeling
the weight of the Torch from the responsibility and history it represents, when
I carried it at the Nagano 1998. Toyota wants to help create an inclusive
society where anyone can challenge their impossible and I can tell you that all
Toyota members are eager to join forces as a company to support the organising
committee’s Torch Relay concept ‘Hope Lights Our Way’.”
Toyota has recently
supported the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games Torch Relay providing Hilux
and Prius. Furthermore, Toyota vehicles were used in all past Japan-hosted
Olympic Games respectively for Tokyo 1964, Sapporo 1972 and Nagano 1998.
Harrier
and 1st Generation Prius from Nagano 1998 Olympic Torch Relay
Toyota became the official
worldwide mobility partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in 2015, and aims to contribute to the
smooth operation of the Tokyo 2020 Games through providing latest mobility,
know-how and technologies. Toyota is also helping to build up anticipation for
the Games through sports and grassroots community activities.
About Toyota's Top Olympic
Partnership and Worldwide Paralympic Partnership
Toyota became the official worldwide mobility partner of the IOC
and IPC in 2015 for the 2017-2024 period, covering the Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 (Korea) and Beijing 2022 (China) and the Olympic
Games Tokyo 2020 (Japan) and Paris 2024 (France). As a partner, Toyota aims to
encourage creating a peaceful society without discrimination through sports and
a commitment to creating a sustainable society through mobility. Toyota's
values of continuous improvement and respect for people are shared by the
Olympic and Paralympic Games, which brings together the entire world in
friendship and solidarity to celebrate the highest realization of human
potential. Toyota believes that mobility goes beyond cars; it is about
overcoming challenges and making dreams come true, which is encapsulated in the
company's "Start Your Impossible" corporate initiative and is the
basis for its transformation from a car company to a mobility company. When you
are free to move, anything is possible.
Reference:Toyota’s
vehicles used at past Olympic Games in Japan
1,520
vehicles (Crown Majesta, Caldina, Ipsum, Corolla Van, Raum, RAV4, High Ace,
Town Ace, Light Ace, Coaster HV, RAV4 EV etc.)
