Olympic Athletes gather for Winter Olympics inauguration ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Jan. 24: Speed skater Nao Kodaira and ski jumper Sara Takanashi on Wednesday joined a group of Japanese athletes for an inauguration ceremony ahead of next month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.Kodaira, who has been appointed team captain, and Takanashi, who　acted as the flag bearer for the day, fulfilled their non-athletic　duties as Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda delivered the opening remarks at the ceremony held in Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.The JOC has set a target of nine medals, including several gold,and hope to surpass the eight medals Japan won at the Sochi Games in 2014.Men's ski jumper Noriaki Kasai will carry the flag for Japan at the　opening ceremony on Feb. 9, but he missed Wednesday's inauguration ceremony as he is abroad. Kasai will be making a record eighth straight Winter Olympic appearance at the Feb. 9-25 games.