Fujiyoshida City signs agreement with French Rugby Federation as the official training site for the France National Team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

International Exchange

Fujiyoshida City signs agreement with French Rugby Federation as the official training site for the France National Team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Yamanashi Prefecture

On March 6, 2020 at the French Rugby Federation headquarters in France, an official agreement was signed into action between the French Rugby Federation (hereafter “FFR”) and Fujiyoshida, laying out the terms of our city’s role as the official training camp for the French National team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A preliminary agreement had previously been signed between Yamanashi Prefecture, Fujiyoshida City and the FFR as of December 21, 2016 but the official agreement was drafted to include further details as the Games draw closer.

【Scene from the signing】


From center to right: Bernard Laporte (President, FFR), Ueno Yuichi (Fujiyoshida City Legacy Advisor), Julien Candalon (Team Services Manager, FFR 7’s)

Following the preliminary agreement enacted in December 2016, Fujiyoshida City served as the training site for the French Female Sevens for two years consecutively in 2018 and 2019 as they prepared for the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Kitakyushu. During their training, the city organized a practice game with the Japan National Sevens Development Squad that was made open to the public to allow the local community a rare chance to witness world class athletes in action. Through the planning and implementation of programs such as this, the city has been able to prepare for the fast approaching Tokyo Olympic Games.

Furthermore, Fujiyoshida City served as the official training site for the French National Team during the 2019 Rugby World Cup™ in Japan and many people, including the president of the FFR visited our city. During their stay the team interacted with the local community in various capacities including a public practice, welcome reception, a school visit to a special needs school and local junior high school, offering the public yet another special opportunity to interact with world class athletes. We were incredibly moved to see that the team had hung a banner gifted to them by students at the local special needs school in their locker room during all of their games. While seeing off the team as they departed Japan following their last game, they graciously commented that they were glad to have had the opportunity to train in Fujiyoshida before their first game and that they appreciated our attentiveness and preparedness during their stay. As a city we were incredibly grateful and honored by the opportunity to serve the team.

Though the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed due to the global spread of COVID-19, our city is determined to continue building upon the strong foundation we have thus far established and to further develop our friendship with France.

【Scene from 2019 Training Camp for the French Female Sevens prior to the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Kitakyushu】

【The connection between France and Fujiyoshida City】
Since the establishment of Fujiyoshida’s sister-city relationship with Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France on October 9, 1978, our two cities have continued to share in a wide range of meaningful cultural exchanges and deepen our friendship. In addition, through our designation as an Olympic Host Town for France in June 2016, our city has embarked on numerous new efforts to promote international friendship through cultural exchanges with France.

【Contact】
Fujiyoshida City Hall / City Planning Department
International Sports Competition Training Camp Invitation Promotion Office
TEL: 0555-22-1353
Email: s_camp@city.fujiyoshida.lg.jp
(Japanese Inquiries only)

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