SPOTLIGHTS
2021.07.23

To Global Toyota Athletes Competing in Tokyo: Message from Akio Toyoda

2021.07.23

With the world standing moments away from the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Akio Toyoda delivered a video message to all Global Team Toyota athletes around the world who are finally heading to make their dreams come true in Tokyo 2020.

There are 233 athletes that Toyota supports around the world. Of them, 123 athletes will compete in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and 57 athletes in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. (Based on the information as of July 14; 14 athletes are waiting to be qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.)

Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota, delivered a video message to those who have arrived in Tokyo after going through various hardships and are finally heading to make their dreams come true in Tokyo 2020. By releasing his message to the athletes via Toyota Times, we hope to encourage them as they head toward their endeavor to “achieve their impossible.”

<To Global Team Toyota Athletes, from Akio Toyoda>

Hello Team Toyota Athletes!

I’d like to welcome all 200 of you to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Each one of you took a different road to get here… and you represent different countries and regions… but you are all here at Tokyo 2020 as a Toyota athlete. And I’m very proud of all of you!

This is where you fight for “your place” in history… and “your place”… is at the top of the podium!

Tokyo may be very far from your home… and since the people that support you can’t come this year… you may be feeling like you are playing for the “away team”.

But… if you close your eyes… this place can be your “home.” The people supporting you in your home country will always have your back.

But please know, that all the employees of Toyota… and all of our friends in the Japanese automotive industry are supporting you too. That’s over five and a half million people! What a home fan base!

Your journey may have begun as Start Your Impossible… but now it’s time to Achieve Your Impossible!

So… are you ready!?

Then fight with all your spirit… and make your dreams come true!

I’ll be watching!

Akio often refers to team members at Toyota as “family”. For example, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year, he sent a video message to the members of Toyota’s global family.

Akio (Message in March 2020: "There is nothing we can't overcome!")

Please know that I am here for you…and that Toyota will do everything possible to support you. Because we are a family…and family takes care of family.

For Akio, the Global Team Toyota Athletes that Toyota supports are also members of the family. In fact, earlier this month, Akio delivered the following message at a pep rally for Toyota athletes who will represent Japan to compete in Tokyo 2020.

[To athletes]

You represent not only Japan but also Toyota. As I have said many times, we are all a Toyota family.

What if your own family members are going to compete in a sports day tomorrow? I now feel like I am a daddy who drives his kids to a sports day.

I would not be satisfied if my kids only participate in the competition. I have never believed that participation is more important than winning.

“Go win!”, that’s all I know to tell my kids. I ask all of you to concentrate on your competition from now on and to make sure you aim for the top of the podium! That’s the request. This is what I wanted to tell you guys!

[To team members]

Let’s cheer on the 200 colleagues who will participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 as family members. (Although their real families can’t make it to Japan this time from overseas) I truly hope that they feel more supported and secure than any of their rivals as they compete.

Please encourage your colleagues to watch the games and cheer on our family members who are making hard efforts. We will only be able to watch the games on TV, and while our cheers will not be physically heard by our athletes, I’m sure they will feel that our thoughts are with them. Let’s root for them hard from home!

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will begin on July 23, and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will start on August 24. Regardless of the flag on the uniform of athletes, Toyota will root for the Toyota athletes as a family.

[Special content on Toyota Times for Tokyo 2020]

“Toyota Times Athletes Now”

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, Toyota Times hosts a 30-minute video program every day to provide unique information on Toyota’s athletes.

Serving as the emcee of the program will be Toyota Times reporter Kyonosuke Morita, joined by Toyota former athletes Nozomi Nagasaki (softball player) and Takahiko Kozuka (figure skater).

Stay tuned on Toyota Times Athletes Now, a program brought to the Toyota family around the world by Toyota.

In addition to the video program, the Global Team Toyota Athletes “players’ book” is made available on the Toyota Times website. As you watch the program, you can also find various information on the Global Team Toyota Athletes there. Let’s get to know more about them!

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