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June 21, 2007
TRAINING REPORT: Local Visit (Day 1)
"Local Visit (Day 1) Leave for Oita Prefecture Courtesy Visit to Prefectural Governor"
Ten participants left Haneda Domestic Airport at 9:40 and flew to Oita Prefecture. 6 nights and 7 days trip has just started.
In front of Oita Domestic Airport minibus with monkeys pictures waited to welcome us. We had one-hour bus drive to the center of Oita city.
The first program was lecture on prefectural policies and measures for welfare and employment of persons with disabilities at Oita Prefectural Government Office. At 3:00 JICA participants had an opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to Governor. Crews from two TV channels and reporters for Oita Godo Newspaper were there to report their visit. Participants looked very nervous to see the Governor at the beginning, however he warmly welcomed us and took a commemorative photo together with participants.
After that they had a lecture on Oita International Wheelchair Marathon
which ws started in 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons.
Champion of the last year is a Japanese who works for Omron Tiyo. It was the
first time for Japanese to be a champion, so Oita people got so excited
about it.
http://www.wheelchair-marathon.com/
Posted by jicafriends at June 21, 2007 06:38 PM