Empowering Athletes Worldwide: Japan’s “Sport for Tomorrow” Initiative Supports Overseas Talent
Updated: September 19, 2025
Japan’s “Sport for Tomorrow” project, an innovative international sports exchange and cooperation venture, welcomes overseas athletes and personnel unable to train adequately in their home countries due to conflicts or disasters. The initiative supports these individuals by providing training environments and facilitating participation in international competitions.
Olympic Games Support
Under this project, Japan plans to host the following athletes for training camps and tournaments in late 2025 and 2026:
- Football and Palestinian players (late October 2025)
- Judo and Ukrainian Judo Team (September 22 – October 12, 2025)
- Fencing and Ukrainian athletes (November 29 – December 8, 2025)
- Rhythmic gymnastics and Ukrainian athletes (mid-January to mid-February 2026)
2025 Paralympic Games: Para Badminton
For the 2025 Paralympic Games, Japan will support para badminton athletes from Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Nigeria through its “Sport for Tomorrow” project. Key details include:
- Participants: 3 Ukrainian players and 1 coach, 2 Bangladeshi players and 1 coach, 2 Nigerian players and 1 coach
- Event: Para Badminton
- Dates: October 7 – November 9, 2025 (Ukraine), October 24 – November 9, 2025 (Bangladesh, Nigeria)
- Support: Pre-training camp, tournament participation, and school visits for sports and cultural exchange
University Resource Utilization for Paralympic Games
In collaboration with the Nippon Sport Science University, “Sport for Tomorrow” will support para athletes in para athletics, including:
- Countries: Palestine, Yemen, Malawi, and Zambia
- Participants: A total of 6 athletes and 6 coaches (described as 1 athlete and 1 coach per country plus NPC staff for Palestine)
- Event: Para Athletics
- Dates: October 17 – 24, 2025
- Support: Interactions with school students, mental rehearsal, training, race preparation, and action planning
About Sport for Tomorrow
“Sport for Tomorrow” (SFT) is an initiative driving the expansion of sports and Olympic/Paralympicmovement values worldwide, including developing countries. Through international exchange and cooperation, it addresses recognized challenges faced by domestic and international sportswhile leveraging public-private partnerships.
_For the official press release, click here._
Did you know?
Launched in 2014, “Sport for Tomorrow” has provided support to various countries, including Jordan, Syria, and Kosovo, enabling over 1,000 athletes and support personnel to train in Japan.
Pro Tip
Follow the official Japan Sports Agency Twitter account for the latest updates on “Sport for Tomorrow” and other Japanese sports initiatives.
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comment on your experiences, share your thoughts, or ask questions about “Sport for Tomorrow.” We’d love to hear from you!
This content is subject to change or updates as of September 19, 2025.