地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

A Gold Medal in Reforestation

Until 1964, the Olympic Games were almost exclusively held in North America or Europe. So it was a very big deal when the Summer Olympics came to Tokyo in 1964, and just two years later, when Sapporo was selected as the venue for the 1972 Winter Olympics. Japan, which had never hosted the Olympics, would be able to host twice in a decade. The venue chosen for the alpine downhill skiing event was Mount Eniwa on the northwest side of Lake Shikotsu. Mount Eniwa is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and the idea of cutting down part of a beautiful old forest to build ski runs was highly controversial. Other mountains closer to Sapporo City were to be used for ski jumping, alpine slalom, bobsleigh, and so forth, so why should Mount Eniwa be damaged just to make facilities for a sporting event that would last only ten days?

Eventually, opponents of using Mount Eniwa were persuaded, in part by the promise that the environment would be restored as soon as the Winter Games were finished, and that all the new facilities built for this event would be removed. As promised, the buildings and the ski runs were demolished right after the Olympics, and restoration work began. New trees were planted and ongoing maintenance continued for years. Today, it is still possible to see where the two-kilometer ski runs were located, but the mountain has nearly recovered and in a short time should heal completely.

奧林匹克與森林再生

1964年之前，奧運會幾乎都在北美及歐洲舉行。而1964年東京夏季奧運會過去僅兩年，札幌就當選為1972年冬奧會舉辦地。從未舉辦過奧運會的日本，十年間一舉包攬兩次奧運會，成為當時人們關注的重大事件。冬奧會高山滑雪滑降比賽的場地定於支笏湖西北的惠庭岳。惠庭岳位於支笏洞爺國立公園內，為興設滑雪場，自古便生長於此的美麗森林被納入部分砍伐計劃。然而這一計劃引起了極大的爭議：既然札幌市附近的其他山岳已被指定為跳台滑雪、障礙滑雪、有舵雪橇等雪地項目的場地，那麼為興建僅使用十天的體育設施，又何必再讓惠庭岳也受到破壞呢？

最終，主辦方承諾札幌冬奧會閉幕之際，立即拆除為之所建造的全部設施，以恢復環境，這才說服了反對在惠庭岳興建場地的人們。依照該承諾，運動設施及滑雪場於冬奧會閉幕之際即被拆除，並立即展開環境恢復工作。與此同時，新種植的樹木也得到了持續數年的維護。如今，全長2公里的滑雪路線，痕跡幾乎已淡去，但與周圍相比，當年新種下的樹木仍略顯瘦小。

奥林匹克与森林再生

直到1964年，奥运会几乎从未离开过北美及欧洲地区。而1964年东京夏季奥运会结束仅两年后，札幌就当选为1972年冬奥会举办地。从未举办过奥运会的日本，十年间一举承办两次奥运会，在当时成为令世人瞩目的重大事件。冬奥会高山滑雪滑降项目的会场定于支笏湖西北的惠庭岳。惠庭岳位于支笏洞爷国立公园内，为建设滑雪场，自古便生长于此的美丽森林被纳入部分砍伐计划。然而这一计划引起了极大的争议：既然札幌市附近的其他山岳已被指定为跳台滑雪、障碍滑雪、有舵雪橇等雪地项目的场地，那么为建设仅使用十天的体育设施，又何必再让惠庭岳也受到伤害呢？

最终，主办方约定札幌冬奥会闭幕之时，立即拆除为之所建造的全部设施，以恢复环境，这才说服了反对在惠庭岳兴建场地的人们。遵照该约定，运动设施及滑雪场于冬奥会闭幕之时即被拆除，并立即展开环境恢复工作。与此同时，新种植的树木也得到了持续数年的维护。如今，全长2公里的滑雪路线，痕迹几乎已淡去，但与周围相比，当年新种下的树木仍略显瘦小。