Indoor Rowing gains global attention at International Conference in Tokyo as a new avenue for African development

The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) welcomed over 13 600 visitors to its exhibition venue, serving as a strategic platform for international dialogue and innovation in African development.

Established by the Government of Japan in 1993, TICAD is a high-level international conference co-organised by the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission. Now in its ninth edition, TICAD continues to champion key development themes including driving innovation across Africa, empowering youth through education and promoting peace and stability etc.

This year’s conference featured approximately 300 exhibition booths and over 200 seminars and symposia, facilitating cross-sector collaboration among governments, academia, and private enterprises.

As part of the thematic exhibitions, World Rowing and the Japan Sport Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Sports Agency, presented their international joint research on virtual sport. Through a poster presentation and a video showcasing past initiatives, the project highlighted the value of virtual sport as a tool for inclusive development and social engagement.

On Thursday, 21 August, a panel discussion titled “Sport for Africa: Japan’s Contribution to African Development through Sport” was held. Prior to the discussion, Ms Fanta Diallo, Director, Engagement and Mobilization Department for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, visited the exhibition booth and engaged in dialogue with the representative from World Rowing. Together, they explored the social role of virtual sport as an innovative approach to sport promotion in Africa.

The dialogue underscored virtual sport’s potential to play a meaningful role in youth development, education, and community building. The initiative captured the attention of both domestic and international attendees, positioning virtual sport as a forward-looking approach to sport promotion and social impact across the African continent.

World Rowing and the Japan Sport Council remain committed to advancing international joint research on virtual sport, with the shared vision of transitioning from high performance to life performance — ensuring that Indoor Rowing continues to serve a meaningful social role.