復興モニュメントがお披露目　被災地の中高生が協力―東京五輪〔五輪〕

　東日本大震災の被災地と世界を結び、復興を後押しすることを目的に、東京五輪・パラリンピック組織委員会が制作に携わった復興モニュメントが１３日、東京都内でお披露目された。大会中は主会場の国立競技場近くの聖徳記念絵画館前に設置され、被災地からの感謝の言葉や選手への応援メッセージを伝える。
　岩手、宮城、福島の被災３県の中高生や東京芸術大学の学生が協力し、２メートル超のモニュメント３体を制作。材料には被災地の仮設住宅で使われたアルミニウムが活用された。除幕に参加した２０１６年リオデジャネイロ五輪女子ダブルス金メダリストで宮城・聖ウルスラ学院英智中高出身の高橋礼華さんは「被災地の方への勇気や希望の光になればいいなと思う」と話した。モニュメントには選手のサインを入れ、大会後には３県に設置される。（2021/07/13-11:41）

Three monuments aimed at connecting northeastern Japan areas stricken by the March 2011 disaster and the world, and supporting the postdisaster recovery were unveiled in Tokyo on Tuesday, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
   During the Tokyo Games, the monuments, which are over 2 meters tall, will be placed in front of the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery near the National Stadium, the main venue for the sporting events, to show messages of gratitude from people affected by the earthquake and tsunami for the support they received from the world and words of encouragement to Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
   The monuments were produced by junior high and high school students from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, which were particularly hit hard by the disaster, students from the Tokyo University of the Arts and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee. Aluminum from makeshift housing in areas affected by the disaster was used for the monuments.
   "I hope they will give courage and hopes to people in the disaster-hit areas," Ayaka Takahashi, who won the gold medal in women's badminton doubles in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, said at the monuments' unveiling event. Takahashi is a graduate of St. Ursula Gakuin Eichi Junior and Senior High Schools in Miyagi.
   After the end of the Tokyo Games, the monuments will be installed in the three prefectures, with autographs of Olympians and Paralympians written on them.