This is the second installment in a three-part series about the efforts of Obihiro, as the nation¡¯s speedskating hub, to nurture young skaters to become future Olympians.
¡°Our challenge is how to balance the holding of large-scale competitions and the use of skating facilities by children,¡± says Ryo Katsumi, 52, secretary-general of the Obihiro Skating Federation, which registers skaters from elementary, junior high and high schools in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido.
Katsumi¡¯s concern comes as the area serves as the nation¡¯s speedskating hub for hosting international competitions.
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