Male sprinter Ryota Yamagata was chosen to captain Japan's Tokyo Olympic delegation, the Japanese Olympic Committee said Thursday, with female table tennis player Kasumi Ishikawa named vice captain.
Yamagata and Ishikawa, both Olympic medalists who will be competing in their third straight games, are expected to swear the Olympic Oath during the July 23 opening ceremony at the National Stadium.
A source with knowledge of the matter said it was not easy to select athletes to accept the positions. The roles require athletes to speak in public and represent the Olympic team, with some candidates choosing to avoid that spotlight amid public opposition to holding the games during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yamagata, who clinched his games berth last Friday at the athletics national championships in the men's 100 meters, accepted the appointment after filling the same post at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
The 29-year-old, who won a men's 4x100 relay silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, will express his determination at the delegation's send-off party on Tuesday.
"I feel a great responsibility being appointed captain of the Japanese delegation to the Olympics held in our own nation," said Yamagata.
"We're in a very difficult situation but that doesn't change what we have to do. We'll proudly bear the nation's emblem on our chests, abide by the code of conduct and strive to do our best to deliver as much good news to the people as possible."
Ishikawa won a silver medal in the women's team event at the 2012 London Olympics and team bronze four years later in Brazil.
The JOC settled on the pair in recognizing that their sporting accomplishments, popularity and character befit athletes who will be the face of the host nation's team.
The JOC created the vice-captain role for the first time at the summer games in order to pursue gender equality. The IOC is asking participating national Olympic committees to each choose a male and female flagbearer for the same reason.
Men's basketball star Rui Hachimura and women's wrestling gold medal hopeful Yui Susaki are in line to carry the national flag and lead the Japanese delegation at the opening ceremony.
Yamagata will be the first athletics competitor to captain the Japanese Olympic delegation since men's javelin thrower Yukifumi Murakami in 2012.
Men's gymnast Takashi Ono was Japan's 1964 Tokyo Olympic captain, and swimmer Makoto Fukui the flag bearer.
