Sports are not merely concerned with selfparticipation,but are also enjoyable in a number of other ways,such as the watching of sports,and play a significant role in providing mental release and enriching free time in Japanese lifestyles.Competitive sports are a form of sports played with the main objective of enhancing levels of competitiveness,and are a method for enjoying sports through the constant effort to attain the highest skill levels by seeking out one's own potential and challenging personal limits.Competitive sports,which are cultivating the frontier of sports,can be a wonderful experience not only for those competing,but also for those watching competitions and involved in supporting and participating in the organization of sporting events.In particular,athletes challenging themselves to their very limits and the performances born as a result,as witnessed at the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano and the FIFA1998World Cup in France,provide a dream to and leave a deep impression on those watching,and have a profound effect on arousing interest and the urge to participate in sports,particularly among today's youth,in whose hands lies the near future.These performances contribute greatly to the dissemination and promotion of sports in Japan,and to the sound development of young people.Sports are able to transcend language barriers by using the same rules throughout the world.They also play an important role in mutual understanding and friendsbip with other nations and in promoting a sense of solidarity among human beings through participation in international competitions and various exchange activities.As stated above,competitive sports contribute to the formation of an active and healthy society,and it would not be an exaggeration that they are a creative and cultural activity common to all human beings.They also play a significant role in providing motivation widely to the people to realize mental and physical health through lifelong participation in sports.
