A Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on physical education and sports was signed between Oita City and the Ministry of Youth and Sports yesterday.
The MOC signed by the Mayor of Oita City, Mr Kiichiro Sato and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Permanent Secretary, Allison Burchell.
The signing follows the City of Oita hosted Ratu Kadavulevu School’s U17 rugby team in September 2017 demonstrating the City’s ongoing commitment to engaging with Fiji.
PS Burchell, said “While this MOC is linked to Japan hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with Oita City inviting the Fijian teams to hold their pre-event training camps in the city, the benefits for both will outlive both events.
“The focus on sport, and a number of sports, will enable a real exchange of expertise and opportunities for both young Fijians and Japanese. However, as is often the case, sport opens the doors to other opportunities including increased cultural understanding and commercial and tourist opportunities within the context of the global village in which we live.”
Mayor Sato said, “Oita City looks forward to further exchanges in developing sports programs, physical education curriculum and activities on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. We enjoyed being able to host the RKS team and I attended the match although RKS won.”
PS Burchell also acknowledged the role of His Excellency, Isikeli Mataitoga, Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan for his vision in developing the relationship with Japan in the area of sport and physical education.