Postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan have agreed new dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, in 2021. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021, and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be celebrated from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
We fully recognise the concern of those who applied to the “Tokyo 2020 Kids Supporters Project”. The future operation of this project will be discussed, and we will update you on this matter through this website. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Tokyo 2020 Kids Supporters Project Secretariat
This project will provide an opportunity for children to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Games. The kids will take part by escorting athletes when they enter the field of play, boosting the excitement of sports fans and increasing the children's level of interest in sports.
Kids Supporters
Kids Supporters refers to children who escort the athletes onto the field of play. They can also be referred to as "fair play children", as the athletes vow fair play to them; as well as "escort kids". They will play the following roles at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Kids Supporters
The children will hold hands with the athletes or walk in front of them to guide them, entering the venue together with the athletes.
Ball delivery kids
The children will bring balls to the athletes to use in the matches.
Coin toss kids
The children will perform the coin toss at the start of the match to decide which side is on defence or attack.
Flag bearer Kids
The children will hold the national flags as the athletes enter the venue.
Organisations accepting Applications
Details will be made available on application pages or through contact information.
・Co-Operative Partner companies
・Japan Sport Association
Official website of the Japan Junior Sports Clubs Association
・Local governments hosting a venue for the relevant sport or the three prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake
(Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Sapporo City, Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Yokohama City)
Applications will be accepted from children who reside in Japan and those attending schools in the local government district. Please note that the criteria for application may differ to some extent between the organisations. For more details, please view the following websites or make enquiries to the local governments. General applications are not accepted for Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture.
Tokyo: Official website of Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation
Sapporo: Sapporo City official website
Ibaraki: Ibaraki Prefecture official website
Saitama: Saitama Prefecture official website
Chiba: Chiba Prefecture official website
Yokohama: Yokohama City official website
Iwate: Olympic and Paralympic Games Promotion Office, Iwate Prefecture Culture and Sports Division
019-629-6796 (available 9:00 to 17:00, excluding weekends and public holidays)
Miyagi: Miyagi Prefecture Olympic and Paralympic Games Promotion Office
022-767-7115（available 9:00 to 17:00, excluding weekends and public holidays)
Fukushima: Olympic and Paralympic Games Promotion Office, Fukushima Prefecture Culture and Sports Bureau
024-521-7437 (available 9:00 to 17:00, excluding weekends and public holidays)
Number of participants
Approx. 3,000
List of sports and participation description
| Name of the sport | Participation description | Venue |
| Football | Escort kids | Olympic stadium, Tokyo Stadium, Sapporo Dome, Miyagi Stadium, Ibaraki Kashima Stadium, Saitama Stadium, International Stadium Yokohama |
| Rugby |
Escort kids Ball delivery kids |
Tokyo Stadium |
| Modern Pentathlon | Escort kids | Musashino Forest Sport Plaza |
| Tennis |
Escort kids Coin toss kids |
Ariake Tennis Park |
| Handball | Flag bearers | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| Baseball/Softball |
Escort kids Ball delivery kids |
Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium |
| Triathlon | Escort kids | Odaiba Marine Park |
| Weightlifting | Escort kids | Tokyo International Forum |
| Hockey | Escort kids | Oi Hockey Stadium |
| Goalball | Escort kids | Makuhari Messe Hall C |
| Football 5-a-side | Escort kids | Aomi Urban Sports Park |
How to apply
Entry methods differ for each accepting organisation. Please check regularly for updates provided by each accepting organisation.
Entries can only be made by parents or guardians. In order to provide ID passes to enter restricted areas, personal identification of the child; a copy of (1) a Japanese Individual Number card complete with photograph; (2) a passport; (3) a Japanese residence card; or (4) a Japanese driving license) must be provided after selection.
Check procedures will occur after selection. If you do not have any of personal identifications listed above, please take the necessary steps to acquire them.
Entry criteria
Applicants must be a child in elementary school as of April 2020 and at the time of the Tokyo 2020 Games. However, for handball (flag bearers), entries will be accepted for senior high school students.
Please refer to the entry criteria of the accepting organisations for more details.
What you will receive
- An official uniform set of the Tokyo 2020 Kids Supporters Project
(Shirt, pants, socks, shoes) - Opportunities to view the match you participate in, and potentially the matches held before and/or after the match you participate in.
- Drinks
- Insurance, etc.
For taking part in this project, participants are mainly expected to arrange and pay for transport accommodation and other expenses, unless otherwise provided by the organisations accepting applications (details may differ between the organisations accepting applications).
Frequently Asked Questions
If applying from a co sponsor partner company, view the company websites as they are updated. For local governments hosting a venue for the relevant sport, the three prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the Japan Junior Sports Clubs Association, please enquire through the above website or to the contact address.
The dates differ for each accepting organisation. Please check the details provided by each accepting organisation.
The accepting organisations will successively provide details on their websites regarding the sports they are accepting entries for. Please be aware that general entries may not be accepted for certain sports or matches.
Entries will be accepted for children who are in elementary school at the time of the Tokyo 2020 Games. However, for handball (flag bearers) entries will be accepted from senior high school students. Please refer to the entry criteria of the accepting organisations for more details. Entries should be made by parents or guardians through the websites of the accepting organisations or other formats as specified by the accepting organisations.
Entries will be accepted regardless of impairment.
If special considerations or support is required, please note as such on the entry form of the accepting organisation.
Entries will be accepted from people with non-Japanese nationality, provided that they are residents of Japan.
The accepting organisations may have requirements regarding place of residence and/or district school attendance. Please refer to the entry criteria of the accepting organisations for more details.
This depends on the accepting organisation. The accepting organisations may have requirements for place of residence or school attendance. Please refer to the entry criteria of the accepting organisations for more information.
Simultaneous applications to more than one place to participate in the project will be accepted, but please do not decline places after being selected. Adjustments may be required in cases where participation is likely to be difficult, such as selections on the same day and time.
Consent of the parent or guardian is required on the participation agreement for minors. Only the parent(s) or guardian(s) (a person with parental authority or guardian of a minor) of the participating child may make an entry application.
The timing depends on the accepting organisation. People selected will be contacted by the accepting organisation. Some accepting organisations may only contact successful applicants. Please refer to the entry criteria of the accepting organisations for more details regarding the announcements. Please understand in advance that the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games cannot answer individual questions about the selection process.
Forms of personal identification are limited to (1) a Japanese Individual Number card (complete with photograph), (2) a passport, (3) a Japanese residence card, or (4) a Japanese driving licence. Procedures for personal identification will be required after selection. If you do not have any of the above, please quickly take steps to acquire one.
Please be aware in advance that you cannot choose the team to escort or the athlete you will enter the venue with.
The design is currently under consideration. Shirts, pants, socks and shoes are available, and the uniform will be presented to participating children.
Please be aware in advance that we do not accept inquiries for reserving or acquiring additional seats for watching the sports or matches.
Participants will gather together several hours prior to the beginning of the match, for an advance explanation and rehearsal.