Editing 1998 Winter Olympics (section)

===Sport sites===
During the 1998 Winter Olympics, a total of fourteen sports venues, all within [[Nagano Prefecture]], were used. Construction of these venues lasted 7 years between 1990 and 1997, with construction and land costs totaling ¥106.6 billion.<ref group="a">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999a|p=184}}</ref> The most expensive venue constructed for the games was the [[M-Wave]] who hosted the speed skating events.This venue is in a distance from 5 kilometers from [[Nagano Station]]. Between March 1996 and November 1997, these sites were tested with 16 different World Championship events, World Cups, and another international competitions to allow the organizers to prepare for the running of the Games.<ref group="a">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999a|p=162}}</ref>

Five new venues were used, localized all inside [[Nagano (city)|city of Nagano urban area]]. The project to build the Olympic Stadium and the 4 indoor arenas was planned even before the plans for the Olympic bid. However, these plans were accelerated soon after the submission of the proposal to the Japanese Olympic Committee, as the city had no infrastructure available for any type of event available. The [[Nagano Olympic Stadium]] is the main sporting venue of the south of city, is on nearby [[Shinonoi Station]], and approximately 9 kilometers from [[Nagano Station]]. Outside from their structure, the stadium, who resembles a [[cherry blossom]], one of main symbols of Japan.During the Games, the arena was exclusively used for the opening and closing ceremonies and, when added to the temporary infrastructure, its capacity reached 50.000.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=128}}</ref>

The [[Big Hat]] Arena was the [[ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics|ice hockey]] main venue.is approximately located 2&nbsp;km from Nagano Station and have a capacity of 10,104 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=219}}</ref> Another arena, the 
[[Aqua Wing Arena]], the second ice hockey venue. Shaped like a wing, it had a capacity of 6000 during the Olympics. After the Games, it was modified into an public indoor swimming with a 25m pool.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=224}}</ref> Aqua Wing is approximately 5 kilometers from Nagano Station. Its closest stations are [[Kita-Nagano Station]] and [[Asahi Station (Nagano)|Asahi Station]]. M-Wave, the [[speed skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics|speed skating]] venue, is the first indoor track speed skating venue in Japan. It was built to accommodate 10,000 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=213}}</ref> The venue, which gets its name from its M-shape, representing the surrounding mountains and harmonize with the skyline, is approximately 5 kilometers from Nagano Station. Finally, [[White Ring (arena)|White Ring]], with a maximum capacity of 7.351 spectators, was built for [[figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics|figure skating]] and [[short track speed skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics|short track speed skating]].<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=217}}</ref> White Ring, which is used as a public gymnasium, is approximately 6 kilometers from Nagano Station.

[[Hakuba, Nagano|Hakuba]] village is situated 50 kilometers west of the city of Nagano. Hakuba hosted three Olympics venues [[Alpine skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics|Alpine skiing's]] downhill, super-G and combined were situated at [[Happo'one Resort]]. Three courses between altitudes of 840 meters and 1,765 meters were used, one for the men's, women's and combined for both men's and women's. The site had a capacity of 20,000 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=187}}</ref> [[Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium]] was the first ski jump built in Japan with parallel 90 and 120 K-point hills. The ski jumping stadium could accommodate 45,000 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=204}}</ref> [[Snow Harp]] Kamishiro was built for [[cross-country skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics|cross country skiing and Nordic combined]]. It includes three tracks of 4.8, 4.8, and 7.8 kilometers.The stadium area is near 1.2 km2. In total, Snow Harp has 19 kilometers of tracks. Up to 20,000 spectators could be accommodated.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=201}}</ref>

[[Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort]], in the town of [[Nozawaonsen, Nagano|Nozawaonsen]], was site of [[biathlon at the 1998 Winter Olympics|biathlon]]. Nozawa is approximately 50 kilometers north of Nagano. At Nozawa Onsen, the stadium was built around six existing tracks. Two tracks, of 4 kilometers and 7 kilometers, were used for the Games. The stadium could accommodate 20,000 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=232}}</ref>

Two sites in the town of [[Yamanouchi, Nagano|Yamanouchi]], approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Nagano, were used. Giant slalom was held at [[Mount Yakebitai]] at [[Shiga Highlands|Shiga Kogen Resort]], at an altitude between 1,530 and 1,969 meters. The site could accommodate 20,000 spectators. Also in Shiga Kogen, at [[Mount Higashidate]], giant slalom events in Alpine skiing and snowboarding were held.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=192}}</ref> [[Kanbayashi Snowboard Park]] was the site of the [[snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics|half pipe event in snowboarding]] . The track is 120 meters long and 15 meters wide, with walls of 3.5 meters. 10,000 spectators could be accommodated at Kanbayashi.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=201}}</ref>

The town of [[Iizuna, Nagano|Iizuna]], approximately 12 kilometers northwest of Nagano, was the site of [[Freestyle skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics|freestyle skiing]] and [[Spiral (bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton)|bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton]] at [[Iizuna Kogen Ski Area]]. 8,000 spectators could watch the free style skiing on a course that 250 meters long and 12,000 could the jumps.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=207}}</ref> The Spiral, which held the sledding events, was the first artificially refrigerated track in Asia. It is 1700 meters long, with a difference in height of 114 meters and 15 turns. At the Spiral, approximately 40,000 [[sapling]]s, mainly [[beech]] and [[oak]], were planted two per square meter, as part of the environmental stewardship committed during the Winter Games. The site could accommodate 10,000 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=228}}</ref>

Finally, the town of [[Karuizawa]], approximately 80 kilometers in southwest of Nagano, hosted the [[Curling at the 1998 Winter Olympics|curling]] events at [[Kazakoshi Park Arena]]. The venue was built as a multi-purpose venue. Its ice surface is 60 meters by 30. Its maximum capacity is 1,924 spectators.<ref group="b">{{harvsp|Hanazawa|1999b|p=234}}</ref> The same venue also hosted the [[Equestrian at the 1964 Summer Olympics|equestrian events]] at the [[1964 Summer Olympics]], thus becoming the first venue to host both the [[Summer Olympics]] and [[Winter Olympics]].