Coverage of the 8th Asian Winter Games Proudly Sponsored by the Olympic Council of Asia.
(ATR) When it comes to Olympic ice hockey there isn’t too much that Japanese journalist Takayuki Shirahige hasn’t seen.
Shirahige has covered ice hockey for 35 years, attending every Olympic tournament since Calgary 1988.
The veteran Japanese freelance journalist was present for the opening ladies contest of the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo. Held at Tsukisamu Gymnasium, a venue which was used during the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, Japan defeated Kazakhstan 6-0.
"The Japanese and Korean ladies teams are growing up in recent years and Japanese female hockey players are going to participate in PyeongChang 2018," Shirahige tells Around the Rings on the eve of the official opening of the Games. "I expect Asian teams win games in PyeongChang."
Despite the sport lacking tradition in Asia, Shirahige is hopeful that the ice hockey tournament in Sapporo will provide a few thrills and a respectable level of play.
"Winter sports had not been common in Asia until the Japanese Olympic Committee committed to hold the AWG in the late 1980’s – as a result, winter sports have gotten popular," Shirahige said.
"Holding AWG is significant, considering that Asian nations have efficient figure skaters, but hockey is not popular in Japan." he said.
Ice hockey at the Sapporo Games involves 18 men’s teams grouped into three separate divisions: the Top Division (4 teams), Division I (6 teams) and Division II (8 teams). The Top Division is comprised of Kazakhstan, Japan, Korea and China. All six of the women’s teams will play in the same tournament.
Despite the incentive of the next two Winter Olympics being held in Asia Shirahige said that growth and development of ice hockey in Japan still needs more time..
"Japan is not the most suitable environment to play ice hockey games," Shirahige said. "One reason is lack of ice rinks. Figure Skating is popular in Japan. Facilities with rink are usually occupied by figure skaters."
Ice hockey is being contested at three venues in Sapporo – Tsukisamu Gymnasium, Mikaho Gymnasium and Hoshioki ice skating rink.
Makomanai Skating Rink, which was one of two hockey venues at the 1972 Olympics, is being used for figure skating competition.
The men’s gold medal contest takes place on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Tsukisamu Gymnasium, while the women compete for gold on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Written and reported in Sapporo by Brian Pinelliand Hironori Hashimoto.
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