NEWS RELEASES
VANCOUVER CHOSEN AS SITE OFJAPANESE SUMO TOURNAMENT
November 29, 1996 No. 224
VANCOUVER CHOSEN AS SITE OF
JAPANESE SUMO TOURNAMENT
In Tokyo today, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan attended the formal
announcement that Vancouver will host a Sumo wrestling exhibition tournament in
June 1998. The announcement was made by Mr. Sho Sakaigawa, Chairman of the Japan
Sumo Association, at a ceremony held at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo.
"This event will mark the first time that a tournament featuring this ancient and
popular sport has been held in Canada," said Mr. Chan. "It is a prestigious
honour as well as an extraordinary opportunity to focus Japanese attention on
Canada, while giving Canadians an insight into Japanese traditions."
Previous exhibitions of the 2000-year old sport have been staged in major capitals
and drawn enormous popular interest. Japan's Asahi TV network plans to broadcast
the Vancouver 1998 exhibition tournament to viewers in Japan.
"Japanese television coverage of this event from Vancouver, and the enormous media
interest that will be generated, will help promote Canada as a prime tourist
destination," added Mr. Chan.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document can also be accessed through the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca or by entering "Ni-Ka Online" in most search engines.
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