With the Paris Olympics 2024 approaching, around 45,000 volunteers are expected to be hired to support the organisation of the games. The role of volunteers is not only critical to the success of the Games, but also has a great social impact in strengthening and promoting volunteering infrastructure.

In this event, moderated by Noel Thatcher MBE, Charles Nishikawa will talk about the role of volunteers in the Olympics. Mr Nishikawa has over 10 years of experience participating as a volunteer in past Olympic Games, including London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. He will share his perspectives on the differences between the UK and Japan regarding the collective experience, motivation, and social impact of volunteers.

About the contributors

Charles Nishikawa

Charles Nishikawa was born in Tokyo and is currently based in London. He read law at Keio University and received his MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University. He is a Guest Lecturer at the Japan Sports Volunteer Network (JSVN). He volunteered in Language Services at the London 2012 Olympics, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Charles was commissioned by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympics and Paralympic Games to help organising and running the volunteer program. He participated in planning, PR, and interviewing and training the volunteers.  Since the summer of 2018, Charles has provided lectures for and advised governments, municipalities, universities and related governing bodies and entities. He is the author of “Tokyo Olympic no Volunteer ni naritai hito ga yomu hon (A book for people who want to become volunteers at the Tokyo Olympics)” published by IKAROS Publications.

Noel Thatcher MBE

Noel Thatcher MBE is a British Paralympic runner who represented the United Kingdom at six Paralympic Games between 1984 and 2004, collecting a total of five gold medals. He was awarded an MBE by the Queen in the 1997 New Year’s Honours list for his services to athletics for disabled people. Noel won 42 international gold medals over six distances and set ten Paralympic World Records during his time in competition. He was selected to carry the Union flag in the Opening Ceremony of Athens 2004. Noel ran his last International in 2005, winning a bronze medal in the European 10,000m. Noel studied Japanese at SOAS, University of London, and is a fluent Japanese speaker; he was third in the annual Sir Peter Parker Awards in 1997. He currently works in a voluntary capacity with the Japan Foundation and Japan Sports Council to promote Japanese language, culture and sport. He received the 2019 Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for contributing to Japan-UK relations through sport.

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