{"id":1494,"date":"2012-10-03T02:24:17","date_gmt":"2012-10-03T02:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1494"},"modified":"2012-10-03T05:20:02","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T05:20:02","slug":"uk-followers%e2%80%99-contribution-at-london-olympics-venues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=1494","title":{"rendered":"UK followers\u2019 Contribution at London Olympics Venues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two followers residing in London took part in volunteer activities at the Olympic Games hosted in the capital between July 27 and August 12. There were also special activities organized by local followers as hinokishin <\/em>and nioigake <\/em>(sprinkling of the fragrance of the teachings).<\/p>\n

Ms. Shinobu Patterson, 54\u2014wife of London Sakurai Mission Station Head Mr. Simon Patterson, 53\u2014served as an interpreter for athletes competing in indoor sports such as table tennis, judo, wrestling, fencing, and boxing at Exhibition Centre London.<\/p>\n

Ms. Patterson originally moved to England to study English and has been married for 28 years to her husband, whom she met during her studies. She had experience of volunteer interpreting at various events before applying for the position at the Olympics. \u201cI had been interested in volunteering there ever since London was announced as the host,\u201d she said. After a successful examination and interview, she was appointed as part of the Language Service Team in February.<\/p>\n

The Language Service Team mainly provided interpretation at post-match interviews with news anchors, medalists\u2019 doping tests, and instructions prior to medal presentation ceremonies. Ms. Patterson interpreted for a large number of Japanese medalists, such as the table tennis players Ai Fukuhara and Kasumi Ishikawa, the wrestler Saori Yoshida, and the judoka Masashi Ebinuma, during their interviews.<\/p>\n

Ebinuma, an eventual bronze medalist, won the quarterfinal of the men\u2019s 66kg category due to the reversal of the referees\u2019 decision. He said after the match that he \u201cwas feeling a bit bad\u201d for his opponent. Ms. Patterson recalled that she then \u201crealized how difficult it was to translate what athletes exactly meant to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the bantamweight boxer Satoshi Shimizu lost the second round due to an unusual decision, Ms. Patterson translated the written protest from the Japanese corner at the request of Japan Amateur Boxing Federation. The protest was accepted three and a half hours after it was submitted. Shimizu thus advanced to the quarterfinal and finished with the bronze medal.<\/p>\n

Ms. Patterson said: \u201cIn the past I had had chances to use my skills in various hinokishin <\/em>activities involving interpretation. I think this is why I was blessed with such a wonderful opportunity to work at the Olympics. I\u2019m grateful that I managed to carry out my job in good spirits without any troubles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Michie Takeuchi, 19, a Yoboku of Kyokushi London Mission station and student at a university in London, was one of \u201cLondon Ambassadors\u201d in Hyde Park, which hosted the triathlon events and provided public viewing areas.<\/p>\n

When asked why she volunteered for the position, Ms. Takeuchi said: \u201cBeing able to host the Olympics in my own country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I love London, and I wanted to share with the world all the great things London has to offer!\u201d She passed her interview last summer and was selected for the position in November. She then attended three training sessions before the Games opened, one each in January, March, and June this year.<\/p>\n

The role of the London Ambassadors was to act as \u201cwalking information centers.\u201d In Hyde Park, one of the noted places in the capital, they welcomed visitors with smiles, showed them around at the Games venues, and gave out maps and pamphlets about the events.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreeting a stranger and receiving a greeting back may be something that happens normally in Jiba, but it was a lot of fun being able to share a smile or hello with lots of passers-by,\u201d Ms. Takeuchi said. \u201cEven a small act such as a greeting can be meaningful hinokishin<\/em>. I was able to truly feel this through volunteering. That is why I hope never to forget this. I am determined to carry it on in my community and at university and will try to greet those around me with a friendly \u2018hello.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Around Hyde Park, young followers\u2014mostly members of the Boys and Girls Association\u2014carried out a special activity to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings. Wearing T-shirts with the logo \u201cOne World, One Family\u201d, and holding world maps, they asked visitors at the park to mark their countries of origin on the maps.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this activity was to convey the essence of the teaching that all human beings are brothers and sisters. Those visitors who marked the maps were given a souvenir\u2014stickers with the address of Tenrikyo International Website and the same message as the one printed on the followers\u2019 T-shirts.<\/p>\n

Some followers engaged in clean-up hinokishin <\/em>and performed kamina nagashi <\/em>(the spreading of the divine name) around the Games venues.<\/p>\n

All of these activities were planned by Kyokushi London Mission Station Head Mr. Nobuyuki Takeuchi, 54. \u201cChildren were happy to join in, not least because Hyde Park is where we observe the Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day every year,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Olympics are a golden opportunity for us to convey the message of the Joyous Life to people gathering from around the world. I hope we will be able to pass on the baton to followers in Brazil when the next Games are held in Rio de Janeiro.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two followers residing in London took part in volunteer activities at the Olympic Games hosted in the capital between July 27 and August 12. There were also special activities organized by local followers as hinokishin and nioigake (sprinkling of the fragrance of the teachings). […]<\/p>\n

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