Nagano Sports Park Explained

Nagano Sports Park
Photo Width:	200
Location:	Nagano, Nagano, Japan
Area:	22.2ha
Created:	1966
Operator:	Shinko Sports^[1]
Website:	https://www.aqua-wing.jp (in Japanese)
Publictransit:	Asahi Station, Kita-Nagano Station

is a park located in the Yoshida area of the city of Nagano, Nagano, Japan, approximately 5 km northeast of Nagano Station. The facilities are owned by Nagano Prefecture and by the Nagano municipal government.^[2]

The park hosted events during the 1998 Winter Olympics^[3] and the 1998 Winter Paralympics. The Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon begins at Nagano Sports Park.^[4] The Aqua Wing Arena located within the Sports Park will be an international pre-training camp for the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[5]

Nagano Sports Park should not be confused with the Minami Nagano Sports Park, located approximately 8 km south of Nagano Station in the Shinonoi area of the city, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1998 Winter Olympics were held.

History

• 1966 - the park opened and the Nagano Prefectural Baseball Stadium was completed.
• 1975 - Nagano Sports Park Pool was completed.
• 1976 - Nagano Athletic Stadium was completed.
• 1977 - tennis courts were completed.
• 1978 - Nagano Sports Park Gymnasium was completed; and the 33rd National Sports Festival of Japan was held.
• 1997 - Aqua Wing Arena, the B-Venue for the ice hockey events at the 1998 Winter Games, was completed.^[6]
• 1998 - Aqua Wing Arena hosted a combined 23 women's and men's ice hockey matches during the 1998 Winter Olympics in February; and the 1998 Winter Paralympics sledge hockey events were held here in March.
• 1999 - Aqua Wing Arena was renovated and opened as the municipal pool.
• 2006 - Shinko Sports was designed as the manager of the park.

Facilities

• Central square
• Walking pond
• Ikoi Forest
• Nagano Athletic Park General Sports Ground
• Pool (Aqua Wing Arena)
• General gymnasium
• Track and Field Stadium (Nagano Municipal Sports Track)
• Auxiliary stadium (sub track)
• Archery field
• Sumo ground
• Tennis court (Higashiwada tennis court)
• Open space
• Gate ball field
• Nagano Prefectural Baseball Stadium
• Nagano City Nishiwada tennis court
• Lawn square
• Children's square
• Mallet Golf Course

Public transportation

• Asahi Station on the Nagano Electric Railway is approximately 15 minutes away by foot
• Kita-Nagano Station on the Shinano Railway is approximately 20 minutes away by foot
• Bus No.7 leaves from Nagano Station, passengers disembark at Undou kouen or Undou kouen higashi

Notes and References

1. Web site: ニュース . 長野運動公園総合運動場 . 9 June 2019.
2. Web site: 長野県の都市公園 (Nagano Prefecture's Municipal Parks) . Nagano Prefecture . 9 June 2019.
3. Book: Hanazawa, Nahomi. Official Report of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Vol. 1: Planning and Support. Norman Kong. The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun. 38. Nagano (Japan). 1999. NAOC. 4784098259. PDF. English.
4. Web site: 2019 Race Information . 21st Nagano Marathon . Nagao Marathon . 9 June 2019.
5. Web site: Nagano Sports Park Public Pool . Tokyo 2020 Pre-Games Training Camps Online Guide . Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games . 9 June 2019.
6. Book: Hanazawa, Nahomi. Official Report of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Vol. 1: Planning and Support. Norman Kong. The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun. 38. Nagano (Japan). 1999. NAOC. 4784098259. PDF. English.