ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour - Japan Open 2014 Commences - Live Internet Broadcast: Men’s and Women’s Singles Finals -

*** For immediate use May 13, 2014



Tokyo, May 13, 2014 - The NEC-supported ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour, Japan Open 2014, starts today, Tuesday, May 13. Please see below for tournament details

ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour, Japan Open 2014

1. Dates: May 13 (Tue) – 18 (Sun)
2. Venue: Chikuho Heights Tennis Court, 8-30 Niho, Iizuka (Main venue: 7 hard courts)
3. Organizer: Kyushu Wheelchair Tennis Association, a specified non-profit corporation
4. Tournament Director: Nobuaki Tsunoda

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) sponsors the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour, which launched this year's events with the Queensland Wheelchair Tennis Open in Australia on January 1, and is expecting to include approximately 160 tournaments held throughout the world in over 40 countries.

NEC has sponsored the Wheelchair Tennis Tour for more than 20 years, beginning in 1992. With a view to promoting para-sports and making a positive contribution to society, eight tournaments are held in Japan during the year. The Japan Open is the only Super Series tournament in Japan (the international class of competition immediately below the four grand slam tournaments), and will gather about 100 leading players from throughout the world. Amongst those attending is the world's top ranking male wheelchair tennis athlete, Shingo Kunieda, as well as the eighth ranked Takuya Miki. Amongst the female contestants is Yui Kamiji, who made a youthful appearance (18) two years ago at the Paralympics and ranks second in the world.

To generate further interest in this tournament, NEC is cooperating with STAND, a non-profit organization, to make the excitement of this contest available online everywhere throughout the world. They will provide a live broadcast with commentary over the internet of the men's and women's singles finals. Mr. Kunieda has also cooperated in creating a promotional video clip for the first time to increase the number of Wheelchair Tennis fans and heighten interest in the tournament.

<Live Internet Broadcast>
Promotion video: http://youtu.be/LRk6jc2J7Ss

1. Date and Time: May 18, 2014 (Sun)
   10:00 ~ Women's Singles Final　 11:30 ~ Men's Singles Final
   *Live broadcast details and starting times may be changed to fit the tournament schedule


2. Live Broadcast Site: http://www.i-project.jp/nec-stand/wt/jo/2014/index_e.html
   Free viewing


3. Archives: After the conclusion of the match, from May 19, the recorded video will be free for viewing.

In addition, as part of the NEC Make-a-Difference Drive -- activities that NEC Group employees from throughout the world participate in in order to contribute to their local communities -- approximately 10 members of the NEC Kyushu Branch are volunteering and as scorers, athlete interviewers, and other roles connected with the live broadcast operations.

Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group is working towards the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Going forward, NEC aims to develop solutions for a wide range of social issues, as a company that creates value for society through the promotion of its "Solutions for Society," which provide advanced social infrastructure utilizing ICT.