Last Updated: 2023.04.05
UNIQLO to Nurture Young Swimmers through UNIQLO DREAM PROJECT Spectator Tour to World Aquatics Championships - Japanese Swimming Legend Kosuke Hagino Appointed as UNIQLO Dream Captain for Tour
UNIQLO CO., LTD.
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Global apparel retailer UNIQLO announces it will host its UNIQLO DREAM PROJECT Spectator Tour at the World Aquatics Championships, Fukuoka 2023, in July. The tour provides young swimmers a unique opportunity to watch world-class swimming and go behind the scenes. As official National Sponsor for the championships, UNIQLO also announces that Olympic swimming gold medalist Kosuke Hagino will lead the tour as UNIQLO Dream Captain.
The project is part of the UNIQLO Next Generation Development Program, which aims to nurture young competitive swimmers. The tour enables 20 elementary school students living in Japan to immerse themselves in the championships from Saturday, July 29, through Monday, July 31. The children will see world-class swimmers in action and go behind the scenes at the venue. Tour applications through a special site will open at 11am, Wednesday, April 5, to Sunday, May 14.
Koji Yanai, Senior Executive Officer of the Fast Retailing Group, said, "I am delighted the World Aquatics Championships will at last take place in Kyushu after a postponement of two years and that we can support this event through the power of clothing. With Kosuke Hagino as our UNIQLO Dream Captain, we hope this project will inspire the dreams of participating young swimmers, helping to increase their interest in swimming and sport generally."
Mr. Hagino will hold a swimming clinic and a special talk session to share the joys of swimming with participants. He will also take part in the SPOGOMI x UNIQLO x World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023* event on Sunday, April 16, helping participants to pick up trash and taking part with them in an art workshop to make use of trash. He will also work with UNIQLO to promote the sport of swimming in Fukuoka and help build interest in this year's championships.
www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/contents/sustainability/society/youth/school/spogomi/
Speaking of today's announcement, Mr. Hagino said, "I am thrilled to participate and contribute to this UNIQLO Youth Development Project. I will work with UNIQLO to share what I experienced in international competition with the participants and further promote the joys of the sport of swimming. I look forward to meeting many children at the World Aquatics Championships, which will be returning to Fukuoka after 22 years."
Profile of Kosuke Hagino
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Mr. Hagino took up swimming at the age of six months. He set school records in his early elementary school years and while at junior high and high school. At 17, he made his international breakthrough at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 400 meters individual medley. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won gold in the 400 meters individual medley, silver in the 200 meters individual medley, and bronze in the 4x200 meters freestyle relay. He made his third straight Olympics appearance at the Tokyo Games in 2021, announcing his retirement from the sport in October that year. He entered the Nippon Sport Science University graduate school in April 2022.
Overview of UNIQLO DREAM PROJECT World Swimming 2023 Spectator Tour
| Eligibility | Elementary school students living in Japan; they must be able to swim at least 25 meters using any style, and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who should apply |
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| Locations | Includes Marine Messe Fukuoka (the venue for World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023) and the UNIQLO Tenjin store |
| Dates | Saturday, July 29, through Monday, July 31, 2023 |
| Sponsor | UNIQLO |
| Participants | A maximum pf 20 elementary school students residing in Japan |
| Participation fee | Free |
| Application period | 11am Wednesday, April 15, through 11:59pm, Sunday, May 14, 2023 |
| Applications | Through the UNIQLO and World Swimming special website https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/contents/sekaisuiei-2023/ |
| Winner announcement | UNIQLO will contact and inform winners directly by email or phone in early June 2023 |
Notes
- Sponsor UNIQLO will pay for tickets to the World Aquatics Championships, accommodation, and partially cover the costs of transportation to Fukuoka. See the application rules for details.
- The program is subject to change without notice.
Overview of World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023
Friday, July 14, through Sunday, July 30, 2023
Number of prospective participants: Around 2,400 from 200 countries and territories
About the World Aquatics Championships
World Aquatics hosts this premier tournament every two years. Athletes compete across swimming, diving, high diving, water polo, artistic swimming and open water swimming disciplines. The inaugural World Aquatics Championships were in Belgrade in 1973. The number of participating swimmers and countries and territories has expanded since then, as has worldwide broadcast coverage. The 2023 championships are in Fukuoka.
