At the skating rink in Nagano City, which will be the venue for the selection of the Japanese national team for speed skating at the Beijing Olympics next year, safety prayers for athletes and users were held before the full-scale skating season.
Approximately 30 people, including the operating company and people involved in ice resurface work, attended the safety prayer held at "M Wave" in Nagano City.
After the priest gave a congratulatory speech and the participants offered a tamagushi, a Japanese paper with the youkai "Amabie", which is said to have dissipated the plague, was distributed in hopes of the end of the new coronavirus.
Shinichi Takizawa, president of M-Wave, said, "Although the influence of Corona continues, next year will be a special year with the Beijing Olympics. I would like to support athletes so that they can play an active role."
The skating rink will begin ice skating work on the 21st of this month and will open on the 1st of next month for speed skating Olympic athletes.
Open to the public will start on the 3rd of next month for the speed rink and on the 31st of next month for the hockey rink.
This December, a selection meeting for the Japanese national team for speed skating at the Beijing Olympics next year will be held.