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From the Olympics Toword Tomorrow
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1,600 join Nagano anti-land mine charity walk
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The Nagano Olympic Peace Appeal Charity Walk, one of the cultural events for the Nagano Winter Games opening Saturday, attracted about 1,600 participants, including schoolchildren, peace activists and entire families.
Williams, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her work to ban antipersonnel land mines, praised Nagano Olympics organizers for highlighting the issue during the Games.
''The Olympics bring together people from all over the world...to bring a message of peace through sports,'' Williams said at a ceremony marking the event. ''If we work together, we can change the world and bring peace to the next century.''
Samaranch also spoke highly of the spirit of Nagano in promoting peace.
''One of the ways that Nagano has proven that it is an Olympic city is by making its contribution to a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic movement,'' the 77-year-old former Spanish diplomat said.
Other dignitaries who took part in the 3-kilometer charity walk included Nagano Gov. Goro Yoshimura and Makoto Kobayashi, head of the Nagano Olympic organizing Committee.
The participants gathered at Joyama Park and walked through the grounds of the Zenko-ji temple, an ancient Buddhist temple that is the symbol of the host city of the upcoming Winter Games, and paraded to Nagano's main railway station, attracting thousands of spectators who lined the streets to cheer.
Each adult participant contributed 2,000 yen to the charity fund, while junior and senior high school students gave 1,000 yen each.
''We joined the walk because we wanted to help victims of land mines,'' said Sanae Kobayashi, a Nagano housewife who participated with her husband and 1-year-old daughter. ''We also felt that we could take part in the Olympic Games by participating in the charity event.''
The charity walk, organized by the Nagano Olympic Peace Appeal Steering Committee, is the centerpiece of a series of events held before and during the 16-day Games in an effort to promote the removal of antipersonnel land mines.
The peace appeal committee will hold another charity walk in Tokyo on Feb. 11. It will be led by British anti-land mine activist Chris Moon.
(Kyodo News)
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Copyright 1998 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun