Progress in the Redesign of the Toyota Athletes' Training Facility
The Toyota Sports Center, located on the outskirts of Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture, is an expansive sports facility that has been a beacon for athletic excellence since its establishment in 1973. At the heart of this centre is the Reconditioning Center, a unique facility that has been a vital part of the Sports Center for the past three years.
Directing the Reconditioning Center is Atsuo Okado, a dedicated professional who has made it his mission to ensure the centre provides the best possible support for athletes. Okado's role encompasses more than just overseeing the centre; he actively participates in workshops, reads academic papers, and seeks out new information to stay at the forefront of his field.
The Reconditioning Center was established with a clear purpose: to address the need for a facility that could prevent injuries and other problems among athletes, as well as illnesses among employees. The centre has grown to become a hub that allows various clubs and their trainers to interact with each other, fostering communication and inspiration among athletes.
Okado's vision for the future includes collaborating with various clubs and trainers, with the Reconditioning Center at the centre. His aim is to feed back the know-how he acquires to company employees, extending the benefits of the centre beyond the Sports Center.
The Reconditioning Center carries out functional checks once or twice a year at all competitive sports clubs to examine and measure the muscle strength and flexibility of every single athlete. This quantitative approach allows for objective evaluations of athlete conditions, providing a detailed understanding of their current status or any changes resulting from measures implemented.
Okado finds joy in seeing all athletes recover and return to competing, regardless of their prominence or athletic achievements. This personal touch, combined with his professional dedication, has made the Reconditioning Center a vital part of the Toyota Sports Center.
While specific details about the role and function of the Reconditioning Center are not extensively documented, it is likely that the centre focuses on maintaining and restoring sports equipment, vehicles (if any fleet is used), or facilities to optimal condition to ensure safety and performance for athletes and events.
Okado has also expressed a desire to apply the know-how cultivated through the Reconditioning Center to people in general who suffer from physical ailments. He plans to build further on the centre's initiative, providing support to competitive sports clubs outside the Sports Center and eventually supporting company employees.
The Reconditioning Center also acts as an advisor for trainers and coaches, offering a third-party perspective and the benefits of a second opinion. This unique role, combined with its initiative to reduce waste and enhance functionality, sets the Reconditioning Center apart and demonstrates Toyota's strong will to protect its athletes and employees.
In a culture where Toyota has come to appreciate, this commitment to athlete welfare and performance is evident. The Reconditioning Center is a testament to this, providing a vital service that ensures the continued success and safety of the Toyota Sports Center and its athletes.
- Atsuo Okado, the director of the Reconditioning Center at the Toyota Sports Center, frequently explores science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and therapies-and-treatments to stay updated and improve the center's services, aligning his mission with these fields.
- Okado's future plans for the Reconditioning Center involve not only collaborating with diverse sports clubs but also extending its expertise to health-and-wellness of Toyota's employees, demonstrating Toyota's commitment to promoting a culture of athlete welfare and wellness.
