4.2 Sportsの最近のブログ記事

Marugame Stadium can accommodate national and international competitions in sports such as soccer and rugby, as well as track and field meets. Along with being the venue of the yearly Marugame Half-Marathon, a national event, it is used by international athletes for training camps prior to the Athletics World Championships and the Olympics.

Kagawa prefecture is ideally suited as a venue for athletic training camps due to its warm climate and peaceful environment. Prior to the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka, the four countries of Scandinavia elected to hold their training camp here. In preparation for the Beijing Olympics 2008, the Finnish athletics and rowing teams are scheduled to hold training camps here again.

This half marathon is held on the first Sunday in February every year. The official course was laid out in 2000. In 2001, Naoko Takahashi, gold medalist in the Sydney Olympics, took part in the run, and in 2005 Mizuki Noguchi, gold medalist in the Athens Olympics, took part, bringing great prestige to the event.
On the day before the race, famous runners hold jogging classes, and souvenir and local Sanuki udon noodle stands are set up for the runners when they finish the race.
In 2009 the race was recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as an international competition, and is drawing many foreign athletes.

Rather than competing for time, the greatest achievement is to reach the goal and complete the marathon. The run is held on Shodoshima in the Seto Inland Sea every autumn.
Free bowls of nyu-men noodles are on offer, and there is free use of hot baths for participants. A t-shirt and towel are awarded to all those who complete the race.

Shorinji Kenpo was founded in Tadotsu Town in Kagawa in 1947 by Doshin So, earning him the title kaiso (founder). It was formed as a way to develop one's personality through a combination of learning, mastery of techniques, and influence from a unique educational system. The headquarters of Shorinji Kenpo is currently located in Tadotsu Town.

There are five professional sports clubs in Kagawa.　They　are　all　beloved　by　the　local　people　because　they　each　work　closely　with　the　community,　guiding　yours　athletes　and organizing events.
Joining the Japanese players on each team are various young people from around the world. Each team strives to become champions of their league or gain promotion to higher leagues through constant practice sessions and matches.
Previously, people could only enjoy sports in Kagawa by playing themselves or watching nationally broadcast pro-baseball games on TV. However with the advent of home teams for Kagawa, people have begun to pack the stadiums, cheering on their hometown favorites and a new way to enjoy sports has come to Kagawa.







[ Club name (Sport, League Name) ]

Kamatamare Sanuki（Soccer, Shikoku Soccer League）

Kagawa Olive Guyners（Baseball, Shikoku/Kyushu Island League）

Takamatsu Five Arrows（Basketball, BJ League）

Shikoku Eighty 8 Queen（Volleyball, Challenge League）

Surpass Kagawa Ice Hockey Club (Ice Hockey, Western Japan Ice Hockey League）

Because winters in Kagawa Prefecture are on the warm side and seldom see any snow, golfers may play year-round. There are many golf courses within a few minutes’ (and many more within a few hours’) drive of the airport, so it’s easy to tee-off the day you fly in.

Courses that paddle through the Seto Inland Sea, meandering among uninhabited islands and beaches free of people, are a popular attraction. The beautiful scenery and relaxation of a personal ocean cruise is certainly worth a try. Tour companies offer half-day courses for the beginner, and two-day, one-night kayak camping trips for the paddler.