Press Release
JAL Decorates Aircraft with Special Livery for 2008 Summer Olympics
Tokyo, April 25, 2008: From the middle of May 2008, Japan Airlines (JAL) will show its support for the members of the Japanese national athletics team participating in the 29th Summer Olympic Games to be held in Beijing this year, by decorating one of its aircraft with a special decal design.
JAL will emblazon on one of its 777-300 aircraft operating on domestic routes in Japan, the official slogan of the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) - ‘Gambare! Nippon!’ (Go for it!! Japan!) - with the faces of seven past Olympic medallists from Japan together with their messages of encouragement to this year’s Japanese Olympic team. The headrest covers on this aircraft will also feature both the logos of JAL and Japan Olympic Committee (JOC).
From mid May 2008, the JAL aircraft will operate mainly operate on 4 domestic routes: Tokyo (Haneda) - Okinawa (Naha)、Tokyo (Haneda) - Sapporo (Chitose), Osaka (Itami) - Okinawa (Naha), and Osaka (Itami) - Sapporo (Chitose).
|
Olympian |
Daichi Suzuki |
Kyoko Iwasaki |
Shinji Morisue |
Yasuhiro Yamashita |
Toshihiko Koga |
Yuko Arimori |
Mikako Kotani |
|
Event (Medal) |
100m Men’s Backstroke (Gold) |
200m Women’s Breaststroke (Gold) |
Men’s Gymnastics, Horizontal Bar (Gold) |
Men’s Judo Open Category (Gold) |
Men’s Judo - 71kg (Gold) |
Women’s Marathon (Silver) |
Synchronized Swimming (Bronze) |
|
Olympics |
Seoul, 1988 |
Barcelona, 1992 |
Los Angeles,1984 |
Los Angeles, 1984 |
Barcelona,1992 |
Barcelona, 1992 |
Seoul, 1988 |
From June 2008, the headrests already mentioned will also be placed on all economy class seats on Japan - China routes. At the same time, on all of JAL’s domestic routes, including the aircraft with the special livery, and in economy class on all Japan - China routes, refreshments will be served in special paper cups with the same JAL and JOC logo design as the headrests.
In August, special Olympic in-flight meals will be served on all China routes to get everyone into the spirit of the Olympics. Details of the meal service have yet to be finalized. Furthermore, JAL cabin attendants and cockpit crew will wear special “Gambare! Nippon!” pins on their uniforms.
Japan Airlines has been appointed by the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) as an official airline for the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China in August 2008. As an official airline, JAL provides transportation to the athletes and officials participating in this event.
In the past JAL was given the privilege of carrying the Olympic Torch from Athens to Japan and the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. More recently JAL was the official airline for the Japanese national team for the 20th Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy in February 2006.
JAL is also a supporter of Special Olympics Nippon (SON), the Japan branch of the Special Olympics. For the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, JAL provided assistance to Special Olympics Nippon by providing air transportation to the team of athletes from Japan and SON members of staff.
JAL & the Olympics over the Years
|
Year |
Place |
Olympiad |
JAL Participation |
|
1964 |
Tokyo |
Summer |
Operated charter flight between Athens and Naha to transport the Olympic Torch for the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
|
1992 |
Barcelona |
Summer |
Operated chartered flight to carry Japanese Olympic team participating in the Games. |
|
1996 |
Atlanta |
Summer |
Official Airline |
|
1998 |
Nagano |
Winter |
Official Airline. Operated chartered flight to transport the Olympic torch. |
|
2000 |
Sydney |
Summer |
Official Airline. Aircraft on domestic Japan routes specially painted with the JOC emblem and "Gambare! Nippon! (Go for it! Japan!)". |
|
2002 |
Salt Lake City |
Winter |
Official airline. |
|
2004 |
Athens |
Summer |
Official Airline. Two JAL cabin attendants from JAL Rabbits team selected as members of national basketball team in the Athens Olympics. |
|
2005 |
Nagano |
Special Winter |
Support the event by promoting the event in-flight, dispatching staff to the Games offices, and providing air tickets to athletes. |
|
2006 |
Turin |
Winter |
Official airline. |
|
2007 |
Shanghai |
Special Summer |
Assist Special Olympics Nippon (SON) by providing air transportation to the team of athletes from Japan and SON members of staff. |
|
2008 |
Beijing |
Summer |
Official airline. Decorates 777-300 with special "Gambare! Nippon!” livery |
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