Snow and Wind Can't Diminish Sapporo Winter Games Spirit

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

(ATR) Ski jumping and alpine ski training at theAsian Winter Gameswere canceled due to strong winds Tuesday, as sport leaders paid tribute to Sapporo citizens for embracing the event.

Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah praised organizers and thanked fans while emphasizing the rich legacy of the 1972 Winter Olympic city.

"We are achieving our goals in winter sport in this beautiful city of Sapporo and I think people are supporting the Games," Sheikh Ahmad said.

The OCA leader said that 30,000 spectators attended the opening ceremony at the Sapporo Dome on Sunday. Also, 40,000 fans have attended events after two full days of competition, although ice hockey and curling started before the official opening of the Games.

"For that, we congratulate the city of Sapporo – we hope over the next days we continue with our success until the closing ceremony," he said.

The normal hill ski jumping event at the Miyanomori Ski Jump Stadium was re-scheduled for Wednesday morning. Miyanomori was the venue where Japanese ski jumping legend Yukio Kasaya led a surprise home nation medals sweep in 1972.

Alpine skiing is also expected to begin tomorrow with the men’s giant slalom at Sapporo Teine Ski Area, another legacy venue from 1972. Cross-country skiing, snowboarding, both long and short track speed skating, hockey and curling are all underway.

Temperatures in the northern Japanese city on the island of Hokkaido have been well below freezing and snowfall has been sporadic, although heavy at times. Downtown streets and sidewalks are covered in snow with winds gusting on occasion.

Amid the cold climate, non-traditional, warm weather hockey nations are competing in Sapporo. In what is being billed as the 'Desert Showdown', Qatar and Kuwait face off on Tuesday night.

"This is a dream for a desert country to have a team here," Ahmad said of the unlikely hockey squads. "The culture of the game has been growing in Asia."

An Asian Winter Games record 18 men’s and six women's teams are taking the ice in the three-division hockey tournament being played at three venues.

Sapporo was the first city outside of Europe and North America to host the Winter Olympics in 1972 and was also the setting for the first two editionsof the Asian Winter Games in 1986 and 1990.

"It’s a big opportunity to continue the legacy for a city to host any winter sports games," Ahmad said of Sapporo.

Seven of the 12 venues being used for the 2017 AWG also held competitions during the 1972 Olympics.

After two days of competition, South Korea leads the medals tally with 15 medals, including six gold. Host nation Japan is second with 13 medals and four gold with China third with nine medals and three gold.

A total of 32 countries, including OCA guests Australia and New Zealand, and approximately 1,200 winter sports athletes are competing in Sapporo across five sports and 11 disciplines

Packed House at Speed Skating in Obihiro

Japan’s passion for long track speed skating is on display at the Obihiro Forest Speed Skating Oval, located some 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the host city. OCA honorary vice president for life Wei Jizhong attended speed skating and noted that crowds are large and everything is "running smoothly".

"It was at a very high level with eight records broken in four events," he said. "The competition was full of spectators. There were not enough seats and spectators were standing. This means the Japanese people like winter sport and they cheer the athletes so congratulations to the organizing committee, Sapporo and Hokkaido."

Ahmad: Sapporo Ready for 2026 Olympic Bid

As Switzerland, Austria, Sweden and Canada ponder 2026 Winter Olympic bids, Sheikh Ahmad says that Sapporo could sneak in as a suitable host should the other bids falter.

"I am happy to hear the interest of Sapporo that they are ready to host the Games in 2026, which would be another legacy in Asia," the Sheikh said. "I believe Sapporo is ready, capable and the citizens want winter sports here. Here in Sapporo we have the history and legacy."

With the Winter Games in PyeongChang next winter and Beijing hosting in 2022, it is highly unlikely that Sapporo would be considered against a North American or European bid in 2026.

"We understand the next two (Winter) Games are in Asia, but if no other city is capable, we would evaluate and I think we would be ready to host the 2026 Winter Games. We have all the tools to host the Games and the city has the experience."

Reported in Sapporo by Brian Pinelli

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