OLYMPIC SPOTLIGHT ON JAPAN: Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched

Jan 18 06:31 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Jan. 18 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Japanese delegation for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver was officially launched at a ceremony in Tokyo on Monday.

Around 90 members of the delegation, which currently comprises 86 athletes and 102 officials for the Feb. 12-28 Games, were present at the ceremony, which was also attended by Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda.

"We are proud and honored to be picked to represent Japan and will head to Vancouver as a united team," said veteran ski jumper and Japan captain Takanobu Okabe, who will make his fourth Olympic appearance and at 39 become the oldest Japanese skier ever to compete in a Winter Olympics.

"We pledge to do our utmost in competition to try and give Japanese people something happy to talk about," said Okabe.

JOC chief Takeda handed the delegation flag to flag bearer and 38- year-old speed skater Tomomi Okazaki via Chef de Mission Seiko Hashimoto, a seven-time Olympian and the first woman ever to head the Japanese team at a Summer Games or Winter Olympics.

"You can expect a tough battle but I want you to have no fear, believe in yourselves and be fully focused on competing," upper house member Hashimoto told the athletes. "I know how much pressure there will be but that pressure must be turned into something positive."

Takeda added, "Do your utmost to respond to the expectations of a nation."

Japan is aiming to improve on its dismal showing in Turin four years ago, where it won just one medal, the gold delivered by figure skater Shizuka Arakawa.

 

 

 

 

Japan's medals hopes rest largely on figure skaters

Mao Asada,

 

 

 

 

Miki Ando

 

 

 

 

and Daisuke Takahashi

 

 

 

 

 

while women's moguls freestyle skier Aiko Uemura is also expected to make the podium.

 

 

 

Veteran ski jumper Noriaki Kasai will be the first athlete in history to represent Japan in six consecutive Winter Games.

 

 

Japan's ski jumpers and speed skaters could also deliver medals.

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