A total of 244 people participated in the Athletic Meet for People with Physical Disabilities on May 27 held at the gymnasium of Tenri Elementary School.
This year, in addition to the staff members of Social Welfare Section of Tenrikyo Mission Department, the students from Shiraume Dormitory (a dormitory for young women studying to become preschool teachers), Tenri Junior Seminary, and Tenri Seminary High School took an active role in running the event as well as cheering for the participants.
The opening of the event was marked by the performance given by baton twirlers from Tenri High School Evening Course. After the opening declaration, Social Welfare Section Chief Nobuyuki Tanaka, who served as steering committee chairman for this athletic meet, greeted the participants. He said: “I hope this event will enable all of us to come into close touch with one another. Let us express the joy of being kept alive by God the Parent through using the body and share the joy together.”
Then, the participants broke into four teams and enjoyed five events including a bread eating contest, lemon soda drinking contest, and fishing contest. During the lunch break, a jazz orchestra from Tenri University entertained the participants by their lively performance.