The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is pleased to announce that it has named Fumio Morooka “WFDF Flying Disc Ambassador for Life.”
As President of the WFDF, it is my honor to announce the recognition of Fumio Morooka, our dear friend and colleague Moro, for the personal role he played in the development of Flying Disc sports globally by giving him the honorary title of “WFDF Flying Disc Ambassador for Life,” stated WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “WFDF has never given anyone in our organization an honorary title. However, while Moro resigned at the end of 2023 from WFDF, it is incredible to think about how instrumental his contributions were in introducing WFDF to the Olympic Movement and the overall world of sport for 31 years, a lifetime. Moro was the first flying disc organizer to truly understand the potential and the opportunity this IOC recognition might provide.”
“Moro had taken it upon himself to represent WFDF at General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) annual meetings at his own expense starting in the early 1990s, and provided the international sports community with an awareness of WFDF that otherwise would not have been established. Due to his recognition in the global sports community, Moro was elected to the GAISF Council as the first AIMS President and to the IWGA Executive Committee. Moro is beloved both in the Flying Disc community and the Olympic Movement. We are pleased to provide him with this well-deserved honorary title, as he is truly WFDF’s global ambassador.”
Fumio Morooka commented “Receiving the title of WFDF Flying Disc Ambassador for Life is a great honor, and I accept it with deep gratitude and humility. I have simply tried to build a “Sport for All” society, and any achievements were only possible through the trust and cooperation of many colleagues and friends around the world. I am especially pleased if my efforts helped build bridges between flying disc sports and the wider international sport community. I will continue to support WFDF and the next generation, and I sincerely thank everyone who has walked this path together with me.”
Moro has been involved in Flying Disc sports since 1980 and is currently Professor Emeritus at Sophia University (Tokyo, Japan). He serves as an Executive Director of the Japan World Games Association (JWGA), and Honorary President of the Japan Flying Disc Association.
In Flying Disc sports, Morooka served on the Board of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) continuously from 1992 until his resignation in 2023, completing 31 years of service dedicated to the development of flying disc sports in Asia-Oceania and worldwide. At the time of his resignation, he was President of the Asia Oceania Flying Disc Federation (AOFDF). He had served as President of the Japan Flying Disc Association from 2009 to 2023, and provided leadership in major international events, including as Tournament Director of the WFDF World Ultimate & Guts Championships (WUGC) in 1992 and as Tournament Organizing Committee (TOC) President for the 2012 WUGC held in Japan. He also introduced Flying Disc as a medal sport of the World Masters Games 2027 Kansai, Japan, with the support of former WFDF Secretary General Volker Bernardi.
More broadly in sport, Morooka served as Executive Director of the Japan World Games Association from 2001 and played a central role in securing and delivering The World Games 2001 in Akita, Japan, serving as Executive Director of the Organizing Committee and Technical Director for flying disc sports, building extensive experience across both strategic planning and operational delivery within the International World Games Association (IWGA) framework. He served as a Board Member of the Japan Olympic Academy beginning in 2007, served on the Executive Committee of the IWGA from 2015 to 2018, and also served as a Council Member of SportAccord from 2009 to 2011 as the first President of Alliance of Independent Members of Sport (AIMS). He also worked as a consultant with the Japan Olympic Committee in its successful bid for the Olympic Summer Games 2020.
Across his academic career at Sophia University, Morooka served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education, and authored numerous books and papers in the fields of sport, physical education, and recreation.
For more information, contact:
Robert “Nob” Rauch
WFDF President
World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
email: [email protected]