A total of 90 members of the UK’s “Achilles Club” came to Japan to participate in an exchange competition with the “4 Wings Club,” formed by alumni from the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Waseda University, and Keio University | Gekkuri Online | Monthly Track and Field
International Athletics Exchange: A Heartwarming Event Between the Achilles Club and the 4 Wings Club
On September 1st, a unique exchange competition was held at the First Ground of the Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo, bringing together the Achilles Club, comprising alumni from prestigious British universities Oxford and Cambridge, and the 4 Wings Club, formed by alumni and student volunteers from Japan’s four traditional universities (The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Waseda University, and Keio University).
The relationship between the Japanese athletics world and the Achilles Club dates back to July 1928, when a Waseda University team participated in a match against the Achilles Club in London, England. This event marked the beginning of a long-standing friendship between the two clubs. In September 1999, the Achilles Club joined the Waseda-Keio Athletics Championship, reviving the three-club match at Oi Stadium in Tokyo. The bond between the clubs continued to grow, with current and former students from the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University participating in a competition hosted by the Achilles Club at the Cambridge University Grounds during the London World Championships in 2017.
Valuable Opportunity for Exchange Despite Typhoon
This year, the alumni of four traditional Japanese schools formed the “4 Wings Club” to welcome the Achilles Club members, who were planning to visit Japan. The event took place at the end of August, just as Typhoon No. 10 was approaching. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the competition went ahead as scheduled, with participants from various age groups, including children and the elderly, taking part in events such as the 100m race walk, standing five-step jump, and Kids 100m.
The organizers, judges, and assistants also participated in the competition, making it a fun and inclusive event for everyone involved. The main theme of the event was “how to have fun with everyone.” Although the typhoon brought relentless wind and rain in the morning, most of the events were held as scheduled, and participants were grateful to the judges and assistants for their hard work.
As long as the weather permitted, we took group photos for each event to deepen friendships.
In addition to the inter-team competition, there was an open frame for participation, and mixed athletes, junior high school students, high school students from affiliated schools, people registered as masters, and even children and grandchildren of people involved participated. The overall competition results were based on a points system, and the Achilles Club won by a small margin in both men’s and women’s competitions, becoming the overall winners.
The Social Gathering was a Great Success, and We Were Touched by the Heartwarming Gifts
At the social gathering after the competition, the athletes were able to relax from the tension of the competition and freely interact with each other. Everything was conducted in English, including the hosting of the event and the guest speech by Yuko Arimori, vice president of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), who also serves on the IAAF Board of Directors Council.
Yuko Arimori, Vice President of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (second from the right), who gave a guest speech at the social gathering, also actively interacted with the participants.
The Achilles Club members were presented with a gift of a colored paper, created mainly by the calligraphy club of Waseda Honjo Gakuin High School, on which each member’s name was written in kanji along with a four-character idiom. The members were delighted when they found out that their names had been transcribed into kanji.
The commemorative colored paper presented to the members of the “Achilles Club” had each player’s name written in kanji along with a four-character idiom.
International Exchange Through Athletics at Next Year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
In the world of sports, the results of competitions and the number of medals are important, but there is also value in deepening exchanges while simply enjoying competitions, as in this event. The World Championships in Athletics will be held in Tokyo for the first time in 34 years in September next year, and many track and field fans are expected to visit Japan.
The Achilles Club players were thrilled with the warm hospitality shown to them by the 4 Wings Club and those involved.