On October 8 the 35th Okayama Kibikogen Wheelchair Road Race, which is sponsored by the Panasonic Group, was raced in the Kibikogen-City area of Kibichuo Town, in Okayama Prefecture. In this event, both wheelchair and non-wheelchair users run in the same field, competing and interacting together in the road race to enhance mutual understanding and deepen communication, while also improving their skills and fitness.
The Panasonic Group has been involved with the running of the event since 1998, and has been a supporting sponsor since 2000. Panasonic Kibi Co., Ltd. (part of Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd.) acts as the secretariat organizing the race, running the event in cooperation with Okayama Prefecture, Kibichuo Town, and offices in Kibikogen-City area.
The opening ceremony
This public and private sector method of running an event is unusual in Japan. The entire community is enthusiastically behind the race.
Panasonic Kibi Co., Ltd. was founded in 1980 to promote employment of people with disabilities. Its management policy is to be a good company bringing happiness to people by bringing people with and without disabilities together to accept and cooperate with one another. It manufactures AV-related parts and assembly of complete products as part of PCO's operations.
The opening ceremony held on the day before the race featured an address by Princess Akiko of Mikasa, the elder daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, who passionately supported this event, as well as speeches by specially invited athletes, Tsutomu Sassa (Former Asahi Kasei's Athletic Team) and Mika Yoshikawa (Panasonic Women's Athletic Team). Also taking part was Shinya Nobuhiro, vice president of PCO and also vice chairman of the event's organizing committee.
From left: PCO Vice President Shinya, Ms. Yoshikawa, Princess Akiko of Mikasa
A total of 39 wheelchair and 1,197 non-wheelchair runners took part in the three categories of a three kilometer, ten kilometer, and half marathon race. Paralympic medalists and ordinary citizens ran together in an intense race over a course officially recognized by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. The sharply undulating course is perfect for this unusual race featuring wheelchair and non-wheelchair runners, as the former can speed up on downward slopes while the latter regain ground on the upward slopes.
The runners gave words of encouragement to each other as they swapped places again and again, bringing to fruition the original goal of the race to encourage a sense of community. The event was supported by around 840 volunteers, including Panasonic Group employees, and 6,000 onlookers on the roads cheered the participants on.
During the road race: Hurtling down a slope at speeds of over 50 kilometers per hour
By enhancing understanding of para sports and encouraging acceptance and recognition of people's uniqueness, the event helps to realize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The Panasonic Group will continue to support this race.
* Panasonic Kibi Co., Ltd. is a business place employing large numbers of severely disabled people. It was established as the first three-sector project in Japan (jointly funded by Okayama Prefecture, Kibichuo Town, and Panasonic). It started operation as a special subsidiary in 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons. People with and without disabilities work together in a pleasant environment blessed by nature. Currently there are 73 employees, of which 33 have disabilities.
