The Winter Games of the National Sports Festival will start on the 24th in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, and the competition will be held for 7 days with thorough measures against infection with the new coronavirus.
The opening ceremony of the National Athletic Meet "Ichigo Ichikai Tochigi Kokutai" was held in Nikko City on the 24th, and Governor Fukuda of Tochigi Prefecture "aims to hold it safely and securely, and is considering and preparing for infection control measures. We welcome you on behalf of the citizens of the prefecture. "
Next, Yu Sasahara of speed skating and Akifumi Suzuki of ice hockey, as representatives of the Tochigi Prefecture team, said, "A tournament that demonstrates the pride and practice results of being a local representative and delivers dreams and excitement to everyone in the country. I swear to do it. "
The tournament will be held for seven days from the 24th to the 30th of this month, and skating and ice hockey competitions will be held at four venues in Nikko City, and approximately 1,200 athletes from 42 prefectures will participate.
The competition will be held thoroughly to prevent infection of the new corona, such as limiting the entrance to the venue to those involved in the competition and not allowing the general public to enter, but according to Tochigi Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, which was originally planned to participate. Miyazaki Prefecture has withdrawn from participation due to the spread of infection.
In Tochigi prefecture, the number of people infected with the new coronavirus reached a record high of 498 on the 23rd, and the prefecture requested the government to apply "priority measures such as spread prevention" on the 21st of this month. It will be held.