Positive local perception
A survey conducted by the City of Nagano and a local newspaper on the 20th anniversary of Nagano 1998 found that 89 per cent of local people felt the Olympic Winter Games were worth staging.
This positive perception has been nurtured over the years thanks in part to two major commemorative events. Held every February since 2004 and organised by the people of Nagano for the people of Nagano, the six-day Lanterns Festival sees the city’s famous Zenko-ji Temple lit up in the five Olympic colours. A flame of peace burns throughout the event to symbolise the Olympic ideal of peace and prosperity for all, which is also the message behind the lanterns displayed in streets around the temple. The lanterns are made by local schoolchildren and local and guest artists.
Staged for the first time in 1999, the Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon continues to attract 10,000 elite and amateur runners every year. The route takes in four of the venues used for the Games, including the Nagano Olympic Stadium, where the race reaches its conclusion. Another annual commemorative event that is still held today is the Nagano Cup, an international ice hockey tournament held at the Big Hat, the venue for the Olympic figure skating and ice hockey events.