Meeting the former Consul General of India (23/05/2017)

On May 23rd 2017, the Pre-Olympic Hockey Training Camp Invitation Committee from Okuizumo, received the opportunity to meet the former Consul General of India, Mr. T. Armstrong Changsan during his visit to Matsue.

The Invitation Committee, presented the town’s intent to have the Indian hockey team visit Okuizumo for a training camp, and requested for Mr. Changsan’s support in the initiative. 

                         

On 24th May, 2017, the very next day of the meeting in Matsue, Mr. Changsan visited Okuizumo, and was accompanied by the Invitation Committee to Minari Hockey Field and Itohara Memorial. His visit was concluded by his meeting with Okuizumo’s mayor, Mr. Yasunori Katta. Mr. Changsan promised his cooperation and support to connect the town to the higher hockey authorities on the Indian side.

                         
 

Meeting the former Indian Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Sujan R. Chinoy (22/09/2017)

On 22nd September 2017, the Invitation committee had the opportunity to meet the former Indian Ambassador Chinoy and Dr. Rupal, Counsellor for Science and Technology at the Embassy of India in Tokyo. 

                          

The Invitation committee received guidance and positive support from the ambassador. He promised his cooperation for the initiative, and assured support to the committee to reach out to the Sports Authority of India. He suggested the Invitation Committee to visit India and proposed hockey exchange events between Punjab and Okuizumo, to promote hockey as a mutual goal.

Meeting the Indian Ambassador, His Excellency Sanjay Kumar Verma  (01/06/2019)

Okuizumo’s Mayor and the Camp Invitation Committee, met the  current Indian Ambassador Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma on 1st June, 2019, during the ambassador’s visit to Matsue.
A brief summary of the host town initiative and Okuizumo’s cultural activities related to the local promotion of the Indian culture was provided to his excellency, who in turn shared his valuable insight and feedback on the whole project. 
                         

His Excellency was extremely supportive and positive of the town’s initiative, and guided the town 's officials on further proceedings. Under His Excellenvy's assistance, the town officials were finally able to meet Hockey India representatives in person.

Meeting Hockey India officials (14/06/2019)

Okuizumo Town representatives met Hockey India Officials- women’s head coach Mr. Sjoerd Maryne, in Hiroshima on 14th June 2019, for an introductory meeting.
                          

Okuizumo received some direct feedback from the coaches on the Hockey camp and the head coach expressed his gratitude to Okuizumo town for the invitation. The team stated that they might consider camping in Okuizumo if the town’s hockey related facilities were of the desired level. 

Okuizumo cheering for the Indian Women’s hockey team in Hiroshima
                          

About 40 primary school children from Okuizumo visited Hiroshima on 22nd June, 2019 to witness the FIH Series Finals match. The kids cheered for the Indian team throughout the match using tricolor cheering sticks and were also selected to escort the international teams playing in the tournament. India ranked 1 in the event, securing a berth for itself in the Olympic qualifiers.    

Meeting Hockey India's CEO Elena Norman, in New Delhi  (06/11/2019)

Officials from Okuizumo visited India from 1st to 6th November. The purpose of the visit included meeting Hockey India representatives and  cheering for India during the final leg of Olympic qualifiers.

                        

On 6th November 2019, officials from Okuizumo Town, visited the head quarters of Hockey India, in New Delhi. The delegation from Okuizumo also visited the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi and requested for embassy’s cooperation. The officials were accompanied by the first and second secretary of the Japanese Embassy during the meeting with Hockey India.

                         

On 1st and 2nd November, the group visited Bhubaneswar City in Odisha to witness the Olympic qualifiers at Kalinga Stadium. Both the men and the women’s team won the qualifiers, catching the last flight to Tokyo Olympics.