On Sunday, April 23, which is also Keio Foundation Day, a ceremony to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Keio University Athletic Association was held at Hiyoshi Campus. This year, in 2017, the Athletic Association is celebrating 125 years since its establishment, and under the slogan “ensuring the future of student sports”, has planned many celebratory events for this milestone year. This ceremony was one such event.
At the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall, people associated with the Athletic Association, including active members, students from affiliated schools, staff and faculty members, over 1,300 alumni who were members of the Athletic Association (eldest was 97 years old), and managers and coaches of the 43 clubs of the Athletic Association gathered. Quoting former Keio University president Shinzo Koizumi—“practice makes the impossible possible”—in his speech, President Seike said the activities of the Athletic Association are the pride of Keio University. He gave words of encouragement to the members of the Athletic Association by saying that their efforts and hard work to be accomplished in both academics and sports are setting a good example and are an inspiration to all Keio University students.
This was followed by congratulatory speeches from Hirokazu Matsuno, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Kaoru Kamata, president of Waseda University, and Toshihisa Nagura, chairperson of the Mita Athletic Association. Then, 43 messages for “ensuring the future of student sports”, one from each Athletic Association club captain, were given, which was followed by an address by Kodai Hirano, student head of the Head Office of the Keio University Athletic Association, who spoke on behalf of all active members of the association. Finally, Saki Takakuwa (Class of 2015, Faculty of Policy Management), a prizewinner at a track and field event at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, gave a commemorative talk titled “Being a member of the 125-year-old Keio University Athletic Association.”
The weather was fine and calm on the day, and all those who attended were seen enjoying themselves. During the celebrations, alumni were rekindling old friendships, and participants also visited the concurrently held “Legacy for the Next Generation” commemorative exhibition.