A pair of Japanese honeymooners stranded in Cape Verde by the coronavirus pandemic have been named unlikely ambassadors for the tropical paradise's Olympic team at next year's Tokyo Games.
Rikiya and Ayumi Kataoka started a round-the-world trip in December in South Africa, and were working their way north in February when the scale of the pandemic began to become clear.
They scrapped their plans to continue on to Europe and decided to fly to Cape Verde.
"We thought staying in Cape Verde was the safest option," husband Rikiya, 29, told AFP in an online video interview from the island.
"We felt fortunate that we were able to come here. The number of infections was rising in Japan. Europe has also seen an explosive rise in cases. Honestly, I thought we got lucky for being able to come to a very peaceful place."
But when the country's airport shut down, they were stuck, and Rikiya, who runs a sharehouse business in Tokyo and works as a videographer, began producing videos and photos for local restaurants and resorts in exchange for meals and lodging.
He also posted videos on his Instagram account, featuring everything from Ayumi strolling through the streets of Sal Island greeting waving residents to a local renovation and beautification project.
Word gradually got out and local media picked up the story, catching the eye of the country's Olympic officials.
- Promoting Cape Verde -
Leonardo Cunha, Cape Verde's chef de mission for the Tokyo Games, decided to get in touch and propose a partnership.
"We decided to invite them as our ambassadors because they were making a lot of high-quality videos of Sal Island and taking a lot of attention from it," he told AFP by email.
"They were keen on promoting our country, even being in a difficult situation," he added.
The request came out of the blue, said Rikiya.
"I thought maybe the fact that we were stuck in Cape Verde... might attract media interest. But I never imagined that we would become Cape Verde's Olympic ambassadors," he laughed.
Tiny Cape Verde, with a population of around 550,000 people, expects to send just a handful of athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Games, which were postponed earlier this year as the pandemic exploded.
Cunha said the couple were in a unique position to promote the country.
"We are only asking them to keep documenting their trip to Cape Verde and promote the images and the morabeza (traditional Cape Verde hospitality) that they are experiencing," Cunha told AFP.
"We hope that from now on they can persist in this task of promoting our country and take the opportunity to do it as well during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."
- Giving back -
Exactly what form that promotion will take during the Games, or when the couple will return to Japan, is unclear.
Cape Verde's airport is still closed, and Rikiya is not in any hurry to leave -- he has plans to film the country's president and Olympic committee.
"I don't think I will be so lucky to be given these great jobs again," he said.
Cape Verde's Olympic committee has told the couple they will have tickets to watch the Games in Tokyo.
But for now, Rikiya is focusing his work on promoting Cape Verde's tourist destinations and local businesses -- when he is not enjoying a dip in the emerald waters with Ayumi.
"In my past travels, I have never stayed in one place for such a long time, like we have in Cape Verde," he said.
"Now, honestly, I think I want to do my part and give back to this country."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Aug 25 2020
![Stranded by virus, Japan couple become Cape Verde envoys Stranded by virus, Japan couple become Cape Verde envoys](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-08/71598333753_CAPEVERDE.jpg)
Stranded by virus, Japan couple become Cape Verde envoys. - AFPRelaxpic
SPRM beku 20 akaun bank bernilai RM740 juta, sebahagian milik pasangan pempengaruh
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) telah bertindak membekukan kira-kira 20 akaun perbankan membabitkan nilai lebih RM740 juta susulan siasatan penyelewengan dana derma awam melibatkan pasangan pempengaruh bersama dua lagi individu.
![Ringgit ditutup rendah menjelang Mesyuarat Rizab Persekutuan Amerika Syarikat Ringgit ditutup rendah menjelang Mesyuarat Rizab Persekutuan Amerika Syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit ditutup rendah menjelang Mesyuarat Rizab Persekutuan Amerika Syarikat
Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar US hari ini disebabkan peserta pasaran terus menumpukan kepada prospek penurunan kadar faedah Amerika Syarikat (AS), kata seorang penganalisis.
![Hantaran sentuh isu 3R di TikTok, MCMC siasat penjawat awam Hantaran sentuh isu 3R di TikTok, MCMC siasat penjawat awam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719640936_TikTok.jpg)
Hantaran sentuh isu 3R di TikTok, MCMC siasat penjawat awam
Seorang penjawat awam disiasat MCMC selepas dipercayai mengeluarkan hantaran jelik melibatkan elemen 3R iaitu agama, kaum dan raja di akaun TikTok miliknya.
![Istiadat Pertabalan Agong: 14 jalan sekitar ibu negara ditutup sementara Istiadat Pertabalan Agong: 14 jalan sekitar ibu negara ditutup sementara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719729286_TBRusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Istiadat Pertabalan Agong: 14 jalan sekitar ibu negara ditutup sementara
Sebanyak 14 jalan raya di sekitar ibu negara yang terlibat dalam upacara Istiadat Pertabalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim akan ditutup secara berperingkat pada Sabtu ini.
![Polis kesan remaja perempuan hilang sejak 27 Jun Polis kesan remaja perempuan hilang sejak 27 Jun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721046618_FiffyArnatasyaRem.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja perempuan hilang sejak 27 Jun
Polis meminta orang ramai membantu mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 16 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang oleh ahli keluarganya di daerah ini sejak 18 hari lepas.
Sandakan destinasi terakhir jelajah konvoi
Jelajah Konvoi Road to MAHA 2024 Sabah melabuhkan tirai dan mnejadikan Sandakan sebagai destinasi terakhir.
![Paris 2024: Aaron-Wooi Yik diundi bersama gandingan utama dunia Paris 2024: Aaron-Wooi Yik diundi bersama gandingan utama dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720616760_BereguLelakinegara.jpg)
Paris 2024: Aaron-Wooi Yik diundi bersama gandingan utama dunia
Beregu lelaki utama negara Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik tidak berdepan masalah untuk melepasi saingan peringkat kumpulan acara badminton di Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024.
FGV lancar Rangka Kerja Kelestarian, riah manfaat jangka panjang
FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) melancarkan Rangka Kerja Kelestarian terbaharu yang diperkasa, sekali gus mengorak langkah ke arah komitmen berterusan FGV terhadap agenda alam sekitar, sosial dan tadbir urus (ESG) meliputi lima teras iaitu Pertumbuhan Ekonomi, Tadbir Urus, Sosial, Alam Sekitar dan Inovasi dan Teknologi.
[TERKINI] Pelajar 14 tahun warga termuda dikenakan tindakan ISA di Singapura
Seorang pelajar lelaki berusia 14 tahun menjadi individu termuda dikenakan Perintah Sekatan (RO) di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) Singapura.
Pembatalan cukai dibuat ketika Muhyiddin sebagai PM
Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur diberitahu bahawa isu pembatalan pengecualian cukai kepada Yayasan Al-Bukhary dibuat semasa Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memegang jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri.