2017 Asian Winter Games
asian winter game アジア冬季競技大会 also known sapporo 札幌 continental winter multi sport event th edition asian winter game held february sapporo obihiro hokkaido japan game originally scheduled however olympic council asia general assembly singapore july committee decided move game one year winter olympics moving forward game began february opening ceremony curling hockey event begin day ended closing ceremony february sapporo obihiro named host city january sole bidding city hosting contract signed tsunekazu takeda president japanese olympic committee third time sapporo hosted event fourth time japan previously city held two first edition game hosting first asian winter game city also host winter olympics winter universiade january sapporo awarded right host game decision announced oca general assembly asian winter game astana kazakhstan bid announced mayor fumio ueda january bidding city total cost expected ¥ billion athlete village athlete official staying game stayed hotel sapporo obihiro speed skating traditional dedicated village built game main medium center main medium center mmc housed international broadcasting center ibc main press center mpc housed sapporo convention center competition venue total venue scheduled used game venue also used winter olympics venue located within sapporo region except speed skating venue obihiro medal design revealed december medal cut using diamond three star curved look like ice three star meant represent athlete star hope diamondcut surface also meant represent fresh air winter along snow ice seen across hokkaido medal millimetre diameter millimetre thick three kind medal also weight differently gold gram oz weighing followed silver gram oz finally bronze gram oz presale ticket select event opening ceremony started september ticket went general sale event november alpine skiing freestyle skiing snowboard parallel event speed skating third division men hockey tournament free admission ticket start around ¥ expensive ticket ¥ closing ceremony month go till start game ticket sold event sold time men halfpipe competition snowboarding resulted ticket released event torch lit february sapporo snow festival held odori park located central sapporo ceremony involved lighting ritual presentation made ainu people indigenous hokkaido island relay lasted one day february closing day seeing kamuinomi one main ritual ainu people ritual involved praying success athlete taking part game february th flame split displayed city hall sapporo obihiro well ward office sapporo main cauldron front sapporo city hall also used winter olympics torch relay local celebration one hour closing ceremony february game main cauldron relighted opening ceremony game took place february sapporo dome show included special performance japanese pop band dream come true addition traditional protocol element ceremony marked innovative element schedule holding two award ceremony brought forward due game calendar among cultural element ainu people invited part closing ceremony game took place february conclusion men event figure skating ceremony held makomanai ice arena also included exhibition gala figure skater took part competition event across winter sport discipline scheduled asian winter game program five ice sport curling figure skating speed skating shorttrack speed skating ice hockeypresent editionbandy ski orienteering dropped organizing committee five snow sport alpine biathlon crosscountry freestyle ski jumping snowboarding due infrastructure issue also established oca regulation four sport program winter olympics part program edition bobsleigh luge nordic combined skeleton number parenthesis indicate number medal event contested sport discipline noc including two invited oceania noc competed indonesia sri lanka timorleste turkmenistan vietnam made debut three additional country scheduled participate afghanistan submit entry deadline cambodia iraq member international skating union thus application participate rejected competing last edition game afghanistan bahrain palestine compete hand missing last edition macau pakistan competed bahrain originally entered men ice hockey team later withdrew government approve expense sending team game amidst drop oil price september announced athlete oceania invited compete country oceania however listed separately deemed official competitor considered invited guest athlete therefore eligible medal kuwait olympic committee suspended october due political interference therefore athlete country scheduled compete olympic flag independent olympic athlete number parenthesis represents number participant entered competition start day opening ceremony th ending figure skating men free program closing ceremony full schedule seen source host nation japan official mascot asian winter game named ezomon ezomon modeled special type flying squirrel found hokkaido region japan ezomon sport red scarf blue cape logo asian winter game three tier sponsorship game plus olympic council asia oca sponsor one athlete hotel apa hotel sapporo founder president hotel chain toshio motoya strong supporter political historical view aligned japan right wing example motoya claimed japanese aggression nanking massacre comfort woman fabricated story fictitious book available guest room hotel created controversy particularly china caused game organizer ask hotel take appropriate action remove guest room organizing committee gain exclusive access hotel february organization committee official said decide removed placed guest room don’t place item offend athlete china also nation” eventually south korea china requested athlete stay different hotel organizing committee obliged changing accommodation sapporo prince hotel event held around world major championship sport contested included fis alpine world ski championship held st moritz switzerland till february opening game due team including among others lebanon decided send best team fis nordic world ski championship lahti finland also happen game february march caused iran send crosscountry skiing team also reason cited low ticket sale many top athlete chose focus world championship various discipline official website