Bridgestone Backs 75 Athletes’ Campaign for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
Bridgestone tires expresses its support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 by forming its largest roster of Team Bridgestone athlete ambassadors to date, comprising 75 athletes in all, hailing from over 20 different countries and playing in 34 different sports.
The diverse list of athletes include luminaries such as María José Granatto (field hockey) from Argentina; Heath Davidson (wheelchair tennis) Joe Ingles (basketball) from Australia; Darlan Romani (athletics) from Brazil; Aaron Brown (athletics) from Canada; Chen Long (badminton) from China; Charlotte Bonnet (swimming) from France; P.V. Sindhu (badminton) from India; Gregorio Paltrinieri (swimming) from Italy; Kosuke Hagino (swimming) and Manami Tanaka (wheelchair tennis) from Japan; Aída Román (archery) from Mexico; Lidia Valentín (weightlifting) and Javier Gómez Noya (triathlon) from Spain; Daley Thompson (retired, athletics) from the United Kingdom; and Allyson Felix (track and field), Missy Franklin (retired, swimming) and Jessica Long (Para swimming) from the United States, among others.
Bridgestone carefully selected the athletes that will represent its brand in the upcoming games based on criteria that relate to the company’s core values, looking at each athlete’s personal stories, performance attributes, and community involvement to determine their worthiness to represent the brand. The company plans to celebrate each athlete’s journey through marketing, community, customer and employee activities before, during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 in alignment with the company's global "Chase Your Dream" message.
"It's fitting that we are supporting our largest and most diverse group of athlete ambassadors for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 because these Games will take place in the city we call home," said Shu Ishibashi, Vice Chair and Representative Executive Officer, Bridgestone Corporation. "Athletes represent the heart and soul of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The world-class athletes on Team Bridgestone embody the perseverance, passion and drive needed to succeed in the face of adversity. We are incredibly proud to celebrate their journeys and work together to inspire people everywhere to chase their dreams,” Ishibashi added.
The athletes also receive financial support and access to Bridgestone products, services and solutions.
"I am honored to represent Team Bridgestone and join so many amazing athletes from around the world on this journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020," said a five-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming Missy Franklin, who competed at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. "Bridgestone understands what it means to strive for elite performance on the highest levels. I'm excited to collaborate with a company that shares my values and believes so strongly in supporting the Olympic Movement, the Paralympic Movement, and athletes around the world."
Aside from supporting the athletes, Bridgestone has also introduced its tire and rubber expertise to support innovations in athletic equipment. In Japan, Bridgestone has developed new track bicycles for the Cycle Track Racing athletes of Team Japan for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and it is also pursuing Paralympic projects to benefit several sports, including tires for wheelchair tennis.
Additional Team Bridgestone athletes and activities will be announced in the months ahead during the countdown to Tokyo 2020.
