The Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia handed over wheelchair basketballs donated by Kasama city of Japan to the Addis Ababa City Government Paralympics Committee today.
Mayor of Kasam City, Yamaguchi Shinju, visited Ethiopia last Februaryand met with the talented Ethiopian Paralympians at the Abebe Bikila Memorial Stadium. The mayor encouraged the Ethiopian athletes to continue breaking barriers, follow their dreams, and inspire others. The mayor on the occasion also promised to send sport equipment; this handover ceremony is a testament of delivering on his promise.
Netsu Shuntaro, Charge d’Affaires ad Interim, the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia handed over the basketballs to Mr Bekelle Gonfa, President of the Addis Ababa City Government Paralympics Committee in the presence of Mekiyu Mohammed, State Minster of Sports for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Netsu on the occasion emphasized that the gift from Kasama City will contribute to create a better training environment for wheelchair basketball teams in Ethiopia, adding that Japan and Ethiopia have enjoyed extensive cooperation and relations to improve each other’s sports activities.
In a prerecorded video message, the Mayor Yamaguchi on his part said: “I visited Ethiopia and had the opportunity to meet with people involved in Ethiopia's parasports. During that visit, I heard that wheelchair basketball is immensely popular. So with the cooperation of our professional basketball team "3 on 3" in Kasama City and the people involved in basketball, we decided to donate basketballs through the Japanese Embassy. I hope these basketballs will be used to greatly promote parasports”.
Similarly, Yamaguchi had donated various sports equipment to the Ethiopian Athletics Federation last year.
Kasama City has been famed for organizing the Abebe Bikila Memorial Half Marathon for the last six years, according to Embassy of Japan.