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The Mie Journal

A WEBLOG MADE IN JAPAN

The Winter Olympics in Torino

I like playing sports very much. I play table tennis five times a week and play soccer in the physical education class. Playing sports is good for our health and for a change of pace, I think.

And I also like watching sports. Athletes who try their best always encourage me; I am impressed by their performance on such a big and great stage. Doing the same would be very difficult for most of us.

This winter, the Olympic Games will be held in Torino, Italy, from February 10 to February 26. The current Olympic Games program includes 35 sports and nearly 400 events, for example Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, figure skating, ice hockey, ski jumping, speed skating and so on.

Among all those many winter sports, I’m most interested in Snowboarding.

There are two reasons. First , Snowboarding is a new winter sport. For the first time in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, it was introduced at the Nagano Games in 1998. Second, two Japanese snowboarders are going to participate. Their names are Dome Narita, 20 years old, and Mero Imai, 18 years old. Because I am about their age, I particularly want to cheer them on.

Of course, to win the medals is important for players, but to take enjoyment in their play is important too, I think. All the players will do their best and give us excitement. I just can’t wait for the Games to start.

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Comments (4)

Link to this comment! Rudolf wrote on February 01, 2006:

I’m terribly un-informed about sports. What else is Japan going to be good at? Figure skating, I’d imagine?

Also, speaking of snowboarding, I’m a bit surprised that so far nobody has mentioned yet the Flickr sets posted by Yoshinori and Yuuna.

Link to this comment! tomoya wrote on February 02, 2006:

I’m also interested in the Olympic Games. especially I want to watch Women’s Moguls. Aiko Uemura is going to participate. I cheer her.

Link to this comment! Rudolf wrote on February 02, 2006:

Hey, I’ve just learned something:

The mogul slope has many large bumps (called moguls) and two jumps. Judges want to see speed, balance, and strength—quick, aggressive turns, and high, difficult moves in the air. The run is 200 to 250 meters long, with a steep 25- to 30-degree slope.

Link to this comment! Rudolf wrote on February 16, 2006:

I’ve just seen my first moguls ever on television. Looks exciting, but that’s got to be very tough on an athlete’s knees…