Between 30^th of March and 3^rd of April President Kraśnicki together with Marzenna Koszewska – director for Olympics and International Relations – visited the country of cherry blossoms responding to the special invitation of the Mayor of Takasaki, Mr Kenji Tomioka.

On April 1^st, the Polish delegation attended the official opening ceremony for the Takasaki Arena multifunctional sport complex. The event was organized in the presence of the highest city representatives, members of the Japanese Parliament, president of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, and many other distinguished guests. President Kraśnicki presented graphic works by the Polish artist Bogdan Wrzeciono, and the sculpture “Basketball player” by prof. Piotr Siwczuk.

The Polish Olympic Committee’s cooperation with the City of Takasaki was set up at the end of 2015 when the Mayor of Takasaki together with the city representatives visited the headquarters of the Polish Olympic Committee and gave a detailed presentation of the Arena, which in those days was under construction.

In May 2018 the representatives of the Polish Sport Federations will visit Takasaki to learn more about the venue and the possibilities it offers. The Arena is located just 50 minutes by Schinkansen fast train from Tokyo, and its very wide infrastructure can perfectly accommodate different sports (basketball, handball, volleyball, judo, table tennis, badminton etc.)

One of the main goals is to host and provide the athletes proper acclimatization and sport facilities before the Games of XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020.

The sport camp for the badminton athletes has been already confirmed.

The Takasaki Arena has become official partner of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

The Polish delegation also met the representatives of the Japanese Olympic Committee and discussed future cooperation and agreements between JOC and POC. President Kraśnicki had the possibility to meet with the President of the Japan Handball Association Yoshihide Watanabe, Council Member of the International Handball Federation and 1^st Vice President of the Asian Handball Federation.