Odawara City will extend the necessary support to the team of Maldivian athletes training for the Summer Olympics 2020, assures Mayor Kenichi Kato.

This was done during a courtesy call paid on Odawara City Mayor by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday, on the sidelines of his ongoing visit to Japan.

While Japan is to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, Odawara City will host the Maldivian athletes competing in the games during the pre-game training and the event.

During the meeting Mayor Kato stated that Maldivian athletes will receive support during their training, set to take place in the Shiroyama Athletic Field in Odawara City which has eight tracks, five throwing event areas and 12 jumping event areas built in for Olympic sports.

Discussions were also held on learning from each other in several areas as well as expanding friendly relations between Maldives and Japan at provincial levels as well as sharing best practices among both governments.

Solih also attended a lunch hosted by Mayor Kato on Monday, followed by a tour at the Shiroyama Athletic Field and the Suzuhiro Kamaboko (Fish Cake) Factory which was established in 1865.

In addition, Solih also conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the people of Odawara City who were affected by the typhoon Hagibis and commended the government of Japan for the swift action taken to recover from the damage left in its wake.

The Maldives delegation, led by President Solih is in Tokyo, Japan to attend the Enthronement ceremony of the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.

They are set to conclude their trip on 27 October.