The Australian Olympic Committee and sponsor Allianz have held an event with gold medallists Sally Pearson and Chloe Esposito to mark one year to go until Tokyo 2020 ©AOC

The Australian Olympic Committee and sponsor Allianz have held an event with gold medallists Sally Pearson and Chloe Esposito to mark one year to go until Tokyo 2020.

Allianz was announced in April 2019 as a backer of the Olympic teams until 2028, and continuing their longstanding association with Paralympics Australia.

The event for Allianz employees included a question and answer session with London 2012 100 metres hurdles gold medallist Pearson, Rio 2016 modern pentathlon winner Esposito, as well as Paralympians Nic Beveridge and Madi de Rozario.

Along with this, Tokyo 2020-themed activities included Japanese food and interactive virtual reality experiences. 

Allianz was announced in April 2019 as a backer of the Olympic teams until 2028 ©AOC
Allianz was announced in April 2019 as a backer of the Olympic teams until 2028 ©AOC

These showcased some of the new sports for Tokyo 2020, including baseball and softball, karate, surfing, skateboarding and goalball.

"The athletes who we support as part of our Olympic and Paralympic partnerships demonstrate outstanding resilience and commitment," Allianz Australia managing director Richard Feledy said.

"Their mental and physical health is of the utmost importance, but many are also balancing their sporting endeavours with family commitments and careers.

"Hearing first-hand stories from Olympians and Paralympians about how they achieve their goals and find balance in their personal, sporting and professional lives, is inspirational for all Allianz employees, including myself."