Sapporo 2017 a Stepping Stone to PyeongChang 2018 Olympics -- ATRadio

8th Asian Winter Games Coverage Proudly Sponsored by the Olympic Council of Asia

(ATR) More than 1,200 athletes from 32 countries are competing at the eighth edition of the Asian Winter Games in Japan as a tune up for next year’s Winter Olympics.

While the competition in Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido isn’t quite as elite as the Winter Olympics, Around the Rings reporter Brian Pinelli says many Asian youth athletes are using the opportunity as a "stepping stone" to the PyeongChang 2018 Games in South Korea.

"We might see a good amount of these athletes here in Japan competing in Korea," Pinelli says on the latest edition of ATRadio with ATR Editor Ed Hula. "As far as [Olympic] medal contenders, probably not that many but you never know."

Pinelli and Hula are on the scene in Sapporo for eighth edition of the Asian Winter Games and third hosted by the Japanese city. Sapporo is using the event to add to its winter sporting legacy highlighted by the Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics. Pinelli says the legacy and memories of the first Olympics in Asia can be found throughout the venues used for this week’s competition.

"It’s a winter sports mecca here on the northern Japanese of island of Hokkaido, maybe many people don’t think about snow and skiing and winter sports in Japan," Pinelli says. "But there’s a history, a legacy here."

Listen to the full conversation with Pinelli and Hula following the first days of competition. The Sapporo 2017 AWG concludes Sunday, Feb. 26.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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