Tokyo, Japan, February 19, 2020: The International Paralympic Committee has announced that it will open its first Paralympic Museum in Tokyo this summer to coincide with the Paralympic Games.
Housed at Coredo Muromachi Terrace in Nihonbashi, with the cooperation of Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd., the museum will operate from August 25 to late September and showcase the 60-year history and rapid growth of the Paralympic Movement.
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “As the Paralympic Games continue to grow in size and scale it is vital that we chart the history of just how far the Paralympic Movement has come in a relatively short space of time.
“The Paralympic Museum will inform and excite visitors with stories and exhibitions of how the Movement has evolved from an event for 16 injured war veterans in 1948 to the world’s third biggest sporting event in 2020.
“It is a remarkable history of how one man’s vision has helped transform global society, empowering and enriching the lives of millions of people around the world.”
Founded in 1948 by German neuro-scientist Sir Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Great Britain, the Paralympic Movement originally focused on the rehabilitation of injured World War II veterans.
In 1960, the first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, involving 400 athletes from 23 countries.
This August, Tokyo will become the first city to host the Paralympics for a second time when it brings together 4,350 of the world’s best athletes from over 165 countries.