Bridgestone Named First Partner for First Video Game Designed to Celebrate Paralympic Athletes

TOKYO, March 4, 2020 /3BL Media/ - Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone), the world's largest tire and rubber company and a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, announced today its sponsorship support for the first official video game of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). As the first partner of "THE PEGASUS DREAM TOUR," Bridgestone is committed to helping the IPC engage new and younger audiences to increase awareness and popularity of Paralympic sports.

"Bridgestone believes in the power of the Paralympic Movement to create a more inclusive world through sport and inspire people of all abilities to chase their dreams," said Mitsuhira Shimazaki, Vice President and Officer for G Brand Strategy and OPSCA (Olympics, Paralympics, Sports, Cycle and Active Healthy Lifestyle), Bridgestone Corporation. "We are excited to work with the IPC and JP Games on this ground-breaking video game to introduce a new generation to the unique excitement of the Paralympic Games and celebrate the truly remarkable feats of Paralympic athletes."

"THE PEGASUS DREAM TOUR" is a sports role-playing game (RPG) created by JP Games, a new studio founded by one of the world's most successful RPG game directors, Hajime Tabata. The game will place players in a virtual Paralympic Games that takes place inside a fantasy metropolis known as Pegasus City. Here, players can bring their "Xtra Power" special abilities to life in an alternate world through dynamic visual experiences that only video games can achieve. The game, which is set to launch worldwide in spring 2020, will be accessible on various platforms, including smartphones.

"Tokyo 2020 is on course to be the best Paralympics to date with billions of people around the world set to engage in the Games. We are absolutely delighted that our Worldwide Paralympic Partner Bridgestone will support "THE PEGASUS DREAM TOUR" opening up the Paralympics to millions of gamers around the world. By engaging this new, younger audience, we believe we can make the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics an even bigger success." said Craig Spence, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, International Paralympic Committee.

"We are proud to announce our in-game collaboration with Bridgestone, who are both world-leaders with their innovative technologies and true supporters of the Paralympics," said Hajime Tabata, CEO of JP Games. "We firmly believe that technology has the power to change the future for the better, and we would therefore like to contribute to the growth of the Paralympic movement by communicating the excitement of the Paralympics together with Bridgestone."

As first partner, Bridgestone will have unique activation within the game and support the IPC and JP Games in their launch efforts. This project, like all Bridgestone activities related to its Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partnerships, aligns with the company's global "Chase Your Dream" message, which encourages people to overcome obstacles and persevere in pursuit of their goals.

About the International Paralympic Committee:

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. It co-ordinates the organisation of the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for 10 sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC’s vision is to make for an inclsuive soceity through Para sport.

About Bridgestone Corporation:

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.

About Bridgestone Corporation’s Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partnerships:

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company and operates with a mission of “Serving Society with Superior Quality.” Bridgestone proudly became a Worldwide Olympic Partner in 2014 and a Worldwide Paralympic Partner in 2018. The company has global rights to the Olympic Movement and Paralympic Movement through to 2024, a period that includes the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024. Bridgestone is dedicated to delivering products, services and solutions that improve the way people move, live, work and play, and its commitment to the Olympic Movement and Paralympic Movement continues a history of sport and innovation dating back more than 100 years. Bridgestone activities related to its Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partnerships are guided by a global “Chase Your Dream” message, which intends to inspire people to overcome obstacles and persevere in pursuit of their goals. As a worldwide partner, Bridgestone has marketing rights that include its full range of tyres, tyre services and selected automotive vehicle services, self-propelled bicycles, seismic isolation bearings, and a variety of building and industrial products.