Hiroko Morohashi

JPN

Role

Chairman of the Advisory Board

Organization

Xebio Holdings

Hiroko Morohashi is the Representative Director of United Sports Foundation and the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Xebio Holdings.

Xebio is the largest sports retailer in Japan, with more than 800 stores across the country. In addition to selling sports gear in its stores, Xebio has led a sports marketing business since 2011, with the goal of encouraging more people to watch and play sports. Since 2013, the company has worked with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Japan Basketball Association (JBA) to create and operate a 3x3 professional league “3x3.EXE PREMIER,” Xebio League, organise grassroots events and organise the official FIBA 3x3 competition in Japan.

A native of Iwaki in Fukushima, Japan, Morohashi created the United Sports Foundation in September of 2011, following the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, and assumed the role of Spokesperson. The organisation is nationally active, and uses sport to promote social culture, sports culture and children who will bear responsibility of the future.

Morohashi serves several additional leadership roles, including councillor at the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art, Director of the Southern Tohoku Research Institute for Neuroscience, Vice Chairperson of Special Olympics Japan-Fukushima, Director at The First Tee of Japan, owner of the Asia League ice hockey team Tohoku Free Blades, Director of the non-profit organisation I Can, and Council member of the Hockey Japan League.

The speakers

Using the unique power of sport to bring people together, the Olympism in Action Forum saw a range of global players, including Olympic Movement stakeholders, athletes, private and public sector leaders, NGO representatives, academics, artists and the media come together to talk on topical contemporary issues. Chosen because of their ability to effect change and their wide range of sometimes differing opinions, the speakers led lively debates and seeked to challenge received wisdom to inspire new ways of thinking.