Update from web team

It has been over a year since we updated this web site. So I would like to take a moment to give you the update of Tomoya Ito.

Throughout 2009-2010, he has been in-and-out of hospital. His multiple sclerosis symptoms started coming out in 2009.

Therefore, he was not been able to perform well at the last a couple races.

However, I would like to give you guys an update that he has just returned from 2nd surgery. And he would resume his training... trying to quality for the world cup games.

He has not given up for London Paralympic, and we would continue to support him as long as he pursue his dream.

Thank you very much.

Katz Ueno
- Webmaster of Ito Tomoya's web site

On Sunday Feb 22, Ito-san attended 20th Wheelchair Ekiden Championship in Kyoto as a member of Mie Pref. Team.

Ekiden is a long distance relay race originalted in Japan.

Every prefectures in Japan organized a team. But this is the first time that Mie Prefecture were able to organize a team.

Mie Prefecture Team Members
From Left: Ito-san, Teruyo Tanaka, Junichiro Inaba,
Katsuhiko Tanaka, and Masaru Kobayashi

On December 21, Ito-san attended Christmas Concert at Suzuka Chuo Sogo Byoin (Suzuka Central Hospital).

After the brass band concert by Kanbe High School Brass Band, he talked about his experience during Beijing Paralympic.

He enjoyed and concert and appreciated his audience who attended this event.

On December 18th, 2008,Mie-TV hosted the ceremony and gave Ito-san"MIe TV's Genki Taisho" to Ito-san.

Genki means "cheer-up".

Mie TV has been giving out this award to the people in Mie Prefecture who contribute the community through art, culture, sports and other activities since 2004.

Ito-san and we appreciate Mie-TV for giving us such a honable award.

Ito-san attended the opening ceremony of Peanuts Artist, YOSHI's exhibit at Bell City Suzuka on Dec 11th, 2008 with his teammate, Teruyo Tanaka who is the bronze medalist of 100m T52 at Beijing Paralympic.

The person, standing left from Ito-san, is YOSHI

Today, Chubu Sports Journalist Association announced that Ito-san received Chubu Sports Achievement Award (中部スポーツ賞 - Chubu Sports Journalists' Athlete of the Year (*)).

This award is one of the longest-running award for sports atheletes in Japan.

And Ito-san is the first Paralympic Athlete to receive this award.

By receiving this award, we hope that more people will recognize the sports for the disabled in Japan.

Ito-san commented in his blog.

Today, the history will change a little. I am honored to be the first one to receive this award as an athlete for the disabled.

I feel that more people start recognizing this sports in Japan.

By using this opportunity, I would like to promote the sports as much as possible.

Also thanks to everybody who has been supporting me.

And I will keep trying my best so that I can keep being a role model for everyone.

*NOTE: There is no official English title of this award.