Citizen Exchange Program Associated with the FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup Sapporo (2024)
【Project Activities】
To coincide with the first-ever Para Alpine Ski World Cup in Sapporo, we worked with athletes and others to conduct: (1) school visits, and (2) a tea ceremony program.
【Project Background】
Sapporo City provided a subsidy for hosting the event. Because 65 top athletes from 16 countries came to Sapporo, the city asked the organizer to implement exchange activities with citizens as part of the event legacy.
【Project Objective】
To raise Sapporo citizens’ interest in sport and, through interaction with para-athletes, contribute significantly to the realization of an inclusive society in Sapporo.
【Project Area】
Sport Promotion
【Methods】
Support for events and competitions
【Outcomes】
Athletes and related personnel visited three schools in the city for exchange. In addition, with support from Hokkaido Musashi Women’s Junior College, we implemented a “tea ceremony program” on a rest day during the competition.
【Voices from Participants and Partners】
Participants valued hearing about the motivation of top athletes active internationally and about para-athletes’ physical preparation and performance improvement. Experiencing Japanese culture through a tea ceremony also contributed to high satisfaction among the athletes.
【Challenges and Lessons Learned】
For the school visits, one school closed a class due to an infectious disease outbreak just before implementation, requiring changes to the original plan.
【URL】
- Time Period
- February 7, 2024 - February 15, 2024
- Region
- Sapporo City, Japan
- Sport/Programme Category
- Para Alpine Skiing
- Implementer
- Sapporo City; Sapporo Global Sports Commission
- Co-Implementer
- Japan Para-Ski Federation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
- Number of Individual Beneficiaries
- Andorra: 1, Australia: 3, Austria: 9, Canada: 1, France: 8, Germany: 7, Italy: 9, South Korea: 2, Netherlands: 4, Norway: 3, New Zealand: 1, Switzerland: 2, Slovakia: 4, Finland: 1, Sweden: 3, Japan: 7


