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Japan Post Announces New Women's Distance Team Targeting 2020 Tokyo Olympics

http://www.47news.jp/CN/201309/CN2013091001002070.html

translated by Brett Larner

 Japan Post Holdings announced on Sept. 10 that it will launch a new women's corporate league team next April.  Made up of athletes who will join the company as new workers next spring, the team will focus on middle and long distances.  The goal behind the new team is to get an athlete onto the 2020 Tokyo Olympics team, thereby raising the profile and image of the national post corporation.

Japan Post Holdings president and C.E.O. Taizo Nishimuro is expected to make an official announcement on Sept. 11.  The athletes will be given reduced working hours and other allowances to help them place an emphasis on their training and racing.  Many of the nation's top coaches will be approached with offers to lead the team, which is expected to have roughly ten members.

Japan Post Holdings already sponsors tennis and other sports teams, but athletes are expected to train after working a regular work day.  The women's distance team will be its first to put a priority on training over work.
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