【Project Activities】

In collaboration with the Sports Development Bureau of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, a mutual runner exchange was conducted for the Sapporo Marathon and Kaohsiung Marathon.① For the Sapporo Marathon (Oct 5), an opportunity for city sightseeing and an exchange event with Japanese runners was provided to runners visiting from Taiwan, aiming to boost the event and build international connections. A Kaohsiung Marathon PR booth was also exhibited at the Sapporo Marathon venue (operated by our commission staff as Kaohsiung City staff could not attend due to a typhoon).② For the Kaohsiung Fubon Marathon (Jan 11-12), domestic runners (mainly Sapporo citizens) who were recruited for the Sapporo Marathon in October were dispatched. In addition to participating in the race, they engaged in exchanges with local runners and event officials. A Sapporo Marathon PR booth was also exhibited at the Kaohsiung Fubon Marathon venue.

【Project Background】

Implemented as part of a mutual exchange project, stemming from a friendship agreement between the Kaohsiung Fubon Marathon and the Sapporo Marathon.

【Project Objective】

Promotion of mutual exchange and sports tourism.

【Project Area】

Sports Tourism

【Methods】

Event/Competition Support

【Outcomes】

① Accepted 12 runners and 10 family members from Taiwan.

② Dispatched 16 runners to Taiwan.

【Voices from Participants and Partners】

① The exchange event held at Sapporo TV Tower, a landmark of Sapporo, was popular with Taiwanese runners, and it was decided to continue it in subsequent years.

② Some runners participated in an overseas marathon for the first time or visited Kaohsiung City for the first time. Comments indicated they not only praised the marathon course but also grew fond of Taiwan and Kaohsiung City itself.

【Challenges and Lessons Learned】

In both Sapporo and Kaohsiung, the “exchange project manager” and the “marathon event operations manager” are different. This can lead to confusion if the exchange manager does not fully understand runners’ movements during the race or methods for receiving participation prizes after the race. Therefore, there is a need for stronger prior information sharing and communication systems.

【URL】