The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), led by President Andrew Parsons, visited Tokyo, Japan from 28 to 30 August 2025 to mark five years since the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, touring legacy sites that have reshaped the city's approach to accessibility and inclusion. The three-day visit underscored how the Games' impact continues to ripple through urban infrastructure, Para sport culture, and public policy across Japan.

Legacy Sites and Barrier-Free Progress

Accompanied by Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) Para Sport and Barrier-free Ambassadors, the IPC delegation toured venues including the Ariake Arena, a local school, and public transportation facilities. The visits were designed to assess the real-world progress of barrier-free initiatives — accessible design, Para sport infrastructure, and universal public access — that the Tokyo Games helped catalyse.

Colleen Wrenn, Executive Director of Paralympic Games, joined Parsons throughout the visit. The IPC noted in a statement that the legacies of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games — including the popularisation of Para sports and the adoption of universal design principles — are now embedded in multiple aspects of city life.

High-Level Meetings and Anniversary Event

Parsons met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and appeared on stage at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics 5th Anniversary Special Stage, held at the Tokyo International Forum — the venue that hosted Para powerlifting during the original Games. The event brought together IPC Special Ambassadors for Tokyo 2020 Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori, as well as Paralympians Mami Tani (Para triathlon) and Daisuke Ikezaki (wheelchair rugby), and TMG Para Sport and Barrier-free Ambassador Shinji Negi, who also served as Associate Mayor of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Village.

What the Leaders Said

IPC President Parsons described Tokyo's transformation as a model for future host cities. 'The legacy of Tokyo 2020 is a blueprint for future host cities. It demonstrates what is possible when an Organising Committee and public authorities work together with purpose to create lasting impact,' he said. He added that the Games had 'reinforced my belief that the Paralympic Games are the world's most transformational sporting event.'

Governor Koike said the performances of athletes 'showed us how people can shine by embracing their differences,' and pledged that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government would continue building on the Games' legacy. Kazuyuki Mori, President of the Japanese Paralympic Committee, called the legacy 'not merely a chapter in history' but one that 'continues to dynamically evolve,' driven by digital technology and the younger generation.

About the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were held from 24 August to 5 September 2021. The Games featured 4,393 athletes from 162 countries. Host nation Japan finished with a record haul of 51 medals. Five years on, the event is widely cited as a turning point for disability inclusion in Japanese public life.

What Comes Next

The IPC's visit signals continued institutional focus on Paralympic legacy measurement ahead of future Games. With Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, Tokyo's model of embedding accessibility into urban planning is being studied as a replicable framework. The emphasis on legacy accountability — rather than one-time spectacle — marks a broader shift in how the Paralympic movement evaluates its own impact.