Jordan signs sporting agreement with Japan

AMMAN — HRH Prince Feisal has hailed a sporting agreement signed with Japan as a “huge step forward for developing Jordanian athletes” in the run up to the Olympics in 2020,  according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on the sidelines of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro between the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC), for which Prince Feisal is President, and the Japan Olympic Committee.

“This is a very important agreement which will provide a huge step forward for developing our athletes as we plan towards the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo,” said Prince Feisal, who was joined at the signing by Lana Al Jaghbeer, the secretary general of JOC.

“I would like to thank our friends from the Japan Olympic Committee for their hard work in putting this together. The MoU will build on the excellent ties that our two countries already enjoy across a number of fields. It provides a great opportunity for both Jordanian and Japanese athletes to work side by side and build solid friendships through sport.

“The agreement will allow us to work together and share our experiences as well as develop capacities for not only our athletes but also our coaches and officials.

“We both share the same initials — JOC — but by signing this today we are coming together as one JOC.”

Jordan has already begun its preparations for Tokyo 2020 with several young athletes on scholarships. Prince Feisal also encouraged the eight athletes competing for Jordan in Rio to make their mark and secure scholarships to also see them compete in Japan in four years time.