International Exchange
Making Fujiyoshida the “Sacred Land of Rugby” ~How to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Pre-Tournament Training a Success~ 【Building Momentum During the RWC Games】 (Part ⑥)
Fujiyoshida City has implemented numerous exchange projects with France, its partner nation in the Olympic Host Town program.
For more on our city’s promotion and marketing leading up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan see here.
Here we will introduce how we built local support and excitement during the actual tournament. We hope to use our experience in implementing previous campaigns to similarly promote the Tokyo Olympic Games.
【Celebrating all players】
During the Official Team Camp, we received a request from the team to collaborate with them on the creation of a large banner celebrating the team including the players who were unable to play on the tournament stage. Eager to help in this effort we promptly oversaw the creation of a team banner which was hung in the team room during games and practices.
【The banner was eventually gifted to the city】
A duplicate of the banner was gifted to Fujiyoshida City. It was brought along by a group of local residents who won a lottery to attend a game as part of a “cheer tour” and was eventually put on display at the Fujiyoshida Civic Center.
The banner which was signed by each of the players prior to their return to France, currently remains on display at the Fujiyoshida Civic Center (2-5-23 Midorigaoka, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi) alongside other relics and photographs from not only the 2019 Rugby World Cup but also the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Kitakyushu during which we hosted the French Female Sevens for their training camp.
【French National Team ”Cheer Tour”】
A group of local spectators was selected via lottery to travel to Tokyo Stadium to cheer on the French team at their first game during the 2019 Rugby World Cup against Argentina. The group was ecstatic to have been able to witness the French team’s victory.
【Our History with the French National Team】
Official City Website
※NOTE: The Fujiyoshida City website uses an automated translation system.
We look forward to promoting the Host Town program during the Tokyo Olympic Games in a similar fashion using our local publication and official city website.
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)
