The opening ceremony was held in Hiroshima City on the 21st, ahead of the National Men's Ekiden, in which runners ranging from junior high school students to working adults cross sashes across prefectures in winter in Hiroshima.
The opening ceremony was held at the Hiroshima International Conference Center in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, and the captains of 47 national teams, including the local Hiroshima team, entered the venue holding the flags of their prefectures.Athletes from Ishikawa, an area affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, attended the opening ceremony. held up a paper with the words ``Thank you for your support.''
At the ceremony, after everyone offered a moment of silence for the victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the Nagano players, who won the tournament for the second consecutive time last year, returned the championship cup.
And Saga's captain, Ryosuke Yamazaki, vowed, ``I will run with all my heart on this sash so that I can bring even a little bit of energy to those who have been unable to carry out their daily lives due to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.'' .
This year's National Men's Ekiden was held in its normal format for the first time in four years, with the ban on vocal cheering lifted, and seven runners ranging from junior high school students to working adults started and finished in front of Peace Park in Hiroshima City. The sash is tied together over a 48km course.
The National Men's Ekiden will start at 12:30 p.m. on the 21st, and NHK will broadcast it on General TV and NHK Plus, as well as provide detailed information on athletes and breaking news on a special website.