Launched in February 2019 at the Swiss Residence, in presence of then-Minister of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Yoshitaka Sakurada, Sports Commissioner Daichi Suzuki, Chairman of the Japan-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship League Seishiro Eto, Mayor of Shibuya City Ken Hasebe, and Ambassador Nicolas Bideau, Doors to Switzerland – Japan 2020 constitutes the public diplomacy effort of the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan on the road to the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Tokyo 2020.
With more than 40 events, 50.000 visitors and some 750.000 impressions on social media, Doors to Switzerland has already taken stock of many successes around its three thematic pillars – Discovery, Innovation and Inclusiveness. Looking back, we recall the shared memories, the great encounters, the deepened friendship and the strong emotions. All this was possible thanks to our many partners – sister cities, host towns, cultural institutions, academic institutions, actors of the creative and tech industries, corporate sponsors, etc. – whom we thank wholeheartedly for their fantastic support and engagement. You can find further information about the progress of the campaign in the PDF report available at the bottom of this page.
To celebrate these achievements and look with hope and enthusiasm towards next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ambassador Jean-François Paroz welcomed a few selected guests in the garden of his residence on July 21. Social distancing measures and other prevention measures were carefully implemented during the event which took place outside. Among the guests were Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games TOCOG Chief Operating Officer Yukihiko Nunomura, TOCOG Executive Director of International Relations Aki Murasato, and Japan National Stadium architect Kengo Kuma.
Looking ahead, given the postponement of Tokyo 2020, the Embassy and its partners will continue to open many doors to Switzerland in Japan for another 12 months, getting ready for the Games. Further, we are happy to announce that we have again secured a location on Cat Street, Shibuya, for our national pavilion “House of Switzerland Japan” that is set to open in July of 2021, for the whole duration of the Olympics and Paralympics.
