Japan Sports Agency, Gates Foundation Tie Up on U.N. Development Goals

November 10, 2018

Tokyo--The Japan Sports Agency and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said Friday that they have formed a partnership to utilize the power of sports for achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

The move comes in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The joint project has been officially certified by the Tokyo organizing committee, which aims to hold the quadrennial event while paying attention to sustainable development.

The charity group led by Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, is expected to offer financial support for influential athletes' participation in activities for achieving the SDGs, including eradicating poverty, providing high-quality education and promoting gender equality.

Gates said in a statement that he expects Japanese athletes to help attract attention from many people. Jiji Press