us; rather, we wanted to communicate it widely to our fellow Sophia students.”A seminar held to establish Go Beyond was more popular than the pair had anticipated. Founded last June with around 80 members, the group’s ranks have since grown to roughly 120, bolstered by the joining of new rst-year students in April.The name Go Beyond embodies three concepts: “Go Be-yond Limits,” “Go Beyond Borders,” and “Go Beyond 2020” – challenging one’s own limits; going beyond the invisible borders among us; and setting out the path to an inclusive society in which everybody may ourish, beyond the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “Last August at an ‘open house’ event, we handed out maps of the campus and surrounds. Then, in November, we held an Oly-Para Week,” recounts Jinno. “We organized talks given by Para athletes and events for people to experience the vari-ous sports and disciplines, and for forthcoming events have a plan to turn the Sophia campus ‘the color’ of the Games.” The aim is to recreate and share with a broader audience the inclusive atmosphere of the Paralympics.In addition, the group has visited elementary and junior high schools to promote its values through classes based on the Olympics and Paralympics. This embodies a key Go Beyond initiative, that of fostering diversity and acceptance in the next generation. Explains Yamamoto, “By trying out Para sports like ‘goalball,’* we are hoping that children will gain a deeper and more personal understanding of disability.” Ahead of 2020 proper, Go Beyond plans to set up a booth at university events such as Oly-Para Week, Open House for prospective students, and the Sophia Festival. It is also plan-ning public screenings of matches during Rugby World Cup 2019, which kicks off in September.“Many of our members are hoping to volunteer for the Tokyo 2020 Games,” explains Yamamoto, “but I am hoping that by applying the experience they have gained from Go Beyond, they will make themselves indispensable to the event rather than being just one among 80,000, which is the number of volunteers said to be required.” Adds Jinno, “It is not just a matter of being ‘moved.’ We would be delighted if Japan and the whole world were to notice how entertaining the Paralym-pic events are, and how dazzling the Paralympians are as individual athletes, making the event a milestone on the path to an inclusive society.”However, while hopes are high and the momentum is strong toward 2020, there is also some concern. What if the Tokyo 2020 Games were to be the start and the end of it all? “For me, what I experienced at the Pyeongchang Games changed my whole outlook and perspective on disability,” asserts Jinno. “I hope that Tokyo 2020 will be a similar watershed moment for a lot of other people.” Emphasizes Yamamoto: “We are thinking about the ‘beyond 2020’ timeframe. Rather than being a transient movement, we hope this group can sustain an initiative across international events like the Olympic and Paralympic Games every four years, and the Osaka Expo in 2025.” The gaze of Go Beyond members is xed rmly on the future beyond 2020.Pursuing a Movement for the Future Beyond 2020KanakoYamamotoColumnThe Sophia Olympics &Paralympics ProjectSince 2016, faculty and students of Sophia School Corporation member schools have par-ticipated in the Sophia Olympics & Paralympics Project, with the aim of creating opportunities to look ahead to the achievement of a border-less, inclusive society. In addition to sending missions to the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics, the proj-ect has organized classes about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, training sessions for language service volunteers, exchange events with Para athletes, and conducted surveys of public transport accessibility.* Goalball: a sport conceived for the visually impaired. Points are scored when a ball con-taining a bell is successfully thrown into the goal. All players wear eyeshades regardless of their degree of visual impairment. 23Student
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