Fukushima Hosts Freestyle Skiing Event

Fukushima's spot on the Freestyle World Cup Skiing circuit is a chance for its people to show there's more to the prefecture than its nuclear tragedy two years ago.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Sports

Topics

Sports

People

Kc Oakley, Yoshie Sakai

Places

Japan, Fukushima

Transcript

SCRIPT: It may not be as famous as Aspen or the Alps but Japan’s Fukushima prefecture is a powder snow paradise. Yet, at the Freestyle Ski World Cup, it was about more than just the skiing – this was a chance for people here to show there’s more to Fukushima than its nuclear tragedy two years ago. SOUNDBITE 1 Yasuda Shuichi (man), event organizer (Japanese, 15 sec): "We want to make sports events more like festivals, where you can drink, get together, and come to Fukushima every year to the event. If we can do that, then we can show people how Fukushima is recovering." The weather threatened to throw a damper on festivities as winds wreaked havoc. A planned bonfire and fireworks display were cancelled, trains to the venue stopped running and lifts were shut down. But snowmobiles were brought in to ferry spectators up and down the hill, and cheerleaders led the willing crowd in a round of group exercises to keep warm. For the foreign athletes, the good vibes needed no translation. SOUNDBITE 2 KC Oakley (woman), US freestyle mogul skier (English, 15 sec): "Japan’s always great. They throw a great opening party and the fans always come out, they're super loud and they cheer. They cheer for everyone, too. It's not just Japan, they cheer for everyone. That makes it a really good time." The locals far outnumbered the visitors - especially those from Fukushima prefecture itself. Mother Yoshie Sakai was there with her three-year old, doing something she doesn’t do often. SOUNDBITE 3 Yoshie Sakai (woman), housewife (Japanese, 15 sec): "This is one of the relatively low-radiation areas in Fukushima. (Addressing her child:) So we're playing a lot outside today. We’re outside for once." People here might still be unable to put the spectre of radiation behind them. But at least this was a chance for them to forget it for a while and just enjoy themselves -- regardless of the weather. SHOTLIST: INWASHIRO, FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN. FEB 24, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR of skiers in the competition - A child taking picture in front of an igloo - VAR of people making and eating local treats SOUNDBITE 1 - Skiers waiting for the competition - A skier having an accident during the race - VAR of the ski resort - VAR of a snowmobile - Cheerleaders leading the crowd - VAR of the crowd, waving flags SOUNDBITE 2 - VAR of local families at the ski resort SOUNDBITE 3 - VAR of local people having fun at the ski resort ///