107th IOC Session - LA84 Foundation

International Competitions Prior to the Games
Local citizens shovel
snow onto the course at
Snow Harp for a crosscountry
skiing World Cup
event in Hakuba (Jan.
1997).
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From March 1996 through November 1997,
a total of sixteen World Championships, World
Cups, and other international competitions were
held at the venues to be used for staging Olympic
competitions. While these events were organized
under the auspices of the winter International
Federations, personnel from the national federations,
the host sites, and NAOC were also included
in the organizational structure to make
preparations and manage the competitions.
These International Competitions Prior to the
Games (ICPGs) provided valuable opportunities
for NAOC to observe and test preparations and
operations for staging the Games. Venue
operations were complicated and complex, and
involved a total of nearly 3,000 athletes and officials,
and the coordinated efforts of some 10,400
operations staff, Japanese Self-Defense Force
personnel, and volunteers. Approximately
228,000 spectators attended the ICPGs, and the
atmosphere at events was festive and exciting.
With the successful conclusion of the ICPGs, organizers
became more confident that the Nagano
Games, too, would be a success. The 1997
International Figure Skating Competition NHK
Trophy was organized wholly by NHK and the
Japan Skating Federation, however a part of the
Games operations systems was tested.