Shota Iizuka, silver medalist in the 400 m relay at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2000, visited the Kingdom of Eswatini in southern Africa and conducted a clinic on track and field for local elementary school children. This was the first visit by Iizuka to Eswatini, where he trained with Sibusiso Matsenjwa, his friend and Eswatini track and field athlete.

The JETRO Johannesburg Office sponsored the program in collaboration with Iizuka, who was planning a trip to Africa.


Iizuka gave tips on running technique to the participating children and explained the secrets of the baton passing technique. He conducted a relay with Matsenjwa and the children and conveyed the appeals and joy of track and field. He also presented a donation of relay batons and stopwatches for measuring records that operate on sunlight. After conducting the clinic, Iizuka appeared on a sports program broadcast in Eswatini and publicized the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the people of Eswatini.