CHAPTER4 IMPROVING INTERNATIONA LCOMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EXCHANGE
SECTION5: THE PROMOTION OF PARTICIPATION INDIVERSEAREAS OF SPORTS
In addition to actually moving one's body to participate in sports,it is also possible to enjoy sports culture in a diverse number of forms.In the"Opinion Survey on Stamina and Sports,"92%of those surveyed responded that they go to watch sports live,watch sports on television or listen to sports on the radio.Watching athletes challenge themselves to their very limits leaves an impression on people and provides them with dreams.It eventually brings about a qualitative improvement of Japanese people's lives and a richer lifestyle.In this way the promotion of"spectator sports"is an important issue in the promotion of sports.The significance and value of sports volunteer activities,in which one gives"support to sports,"are gaining recognition as a new form of involvement in sports culture.This was shown at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games where a large number of volunteers cooperated in the management of the Games,and helped to make them a great success.Since FY1996,MESSC has been conducting surveys and researcb for the purpose of understanding current conditions of volunteer activities and identifying future issues relating to sports.Volunteers gathered at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games not only from Nagano Prefecture but also from other areas across Japan and from overseas.Approximately32,000people participated in the management of the Games,including venue arrangements,security and transportation operations.A further15,000people participated in related cultural events.In order to promote the creation of information exchange networks and voluntary activities among the registered volunteers,the Nagano Olympic Volunteer Promotion Council(Team'98)was established.Before the Games,training workshops were conducted in cooperation with the Organizing Committee for the XVIII Olympic Winter Games,Nagano1998(NAOC).Activities were also carried out to positively cultivate volunteer spirit,such as activities to provide victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake with bathing facilities.
The results of such efforts were fully demonstrated in the actual operation of the Games,received great acclaim from the people involved in the Games,and contributed greatly to the success of the Games themselves.In addition,local economic and labor organizations established the Economic Organization and Federation Nagano Olympic Volunteer Conference for the creation of a better environment for volunteer activities,such as the introduction of a special leave system.It is hoped that the various experiences gained at these Olympic Games will enable sports volunteer activities to develop a stage further in the organization of other competition events.
