Daisy Elliott competes in the disc throw during the Kanto Plains Special Olympics at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Daisy Elliot was among 101 young athletes from across Japan who gathered at this airlift hub in western Tokyo over the weekend for the 45th Kanto Plains Special Olympics.
Elliot, a student at Yokota High School, read the Olympic oath during Saturday’s opening ceremony before the 350 people who attended the games. Later, she competed in the disc throw. A Japanese athlete read the same oath in Japanese.
“It feels like such a good opportunity for the kids to be able to interact with their peers, other athletes, students and event participants who are special needs, and it’s great,” Daisy’s father, Stacey Elliott, a Defense Department civilian employee, said at the event.
The athletes came from across the Kanto Plain, the area that encompasses the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, and from Defense Department schools at U.S. bases across Japan.
They competed in more than 12 events, including bowling, swimming, track and field, soccer and basketball, said Air Force Master Sgt. Kenneth Welch, president of the Kanto Plains Special Olympics.
“Some of these people have traveled 10 ½ hours to get here to participate in this event, and some of the athletes have been participating since they were 6 years old, so we are honored to continue to support this tradition,” he told Stars and Stripes at the event.
Daisy Elliot has attended every Kanto Plains Special Olympics since 2019.
“Each individual athlete, they come out here and they have a goal in mind that they’re trying to reach,” said Tech. Sgt. Yusuf Neal, the Kanto Plains Special Olympics secretary. “For a lot of them, they’re not necessarily coming out here to win a medal or anything. A lot of them just come out here to meet the other athletes and just have fun.”
The daylong event began with a ceremony and parade of athletes along the high school track.
Nanami Sugimoto, of Tama city, Tokyo, competes in the long jump during the Kanto Plains Special Olympics at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Arissa Landry competes in the long jump during the Kanto Plains Special Olympics at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Athletes and volunteers pose during the Kanto Plains Special Olympics at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Tomoya Sakamoto, of Ome city, Tokyo, receives a medal for the 100-meter dash during the Kanto Plains Special Olympics at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Strip)
Naoya Isegawa, of Fuchu city, Tokyo, competes in the 100-meter dash during the Kanto Plains Special Olympics at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
“The spirit of collaboration and dedication that has fueled this endeavor embodies the true meaning of persistence and perseverance,” Col. Brett Cochran, deputy commander of the 374th Airlift Wing, said at the opening ceremony.
Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Operations Support Wing Commander Col. Hiroyuki Ishii and Fussa city Mayor Ikuo Kato also spoke.
“I love to see athletes working hard when they take on the challenge of playing sports,” Kato told the crowd. “I will do my best to support you so that you can achieve the results of your daily practice in each of your competitions.”
After the events wrapped up for the day, the athletes and their families gathered in the Yokota Officer’s Club for the closing ceremonies and dinner.
“Every year this event gets better and better and it’s always more heartwarming,” Stacey Elliott said. “We love it, we appreciate it, and we plan to participate again in the future.”
