Ski jump venues
Two ski jumping venues, Okurayama and Miyanomori, were used for Sapporo 1972.
The Okurayama ski jump hill hosted the 90m jump. The venue had existed since 1931, when it was given its name by founder Baron Kishichiro Okura, but it was entirely rebuilt for the Olympic Winter Games.
As part of the reconstruction, the original jump was moved forward to help overcome crosswind issues, and stands for 50,000 spectators were erected. The site is visible from Sapporo city centre. It remains a regular Ski Jump World Cup venue, and has also hosted the World Championships, Continental Cup and National Championships.
The venue has had several upgrades: a new lift was added in 1982, it was expanded to become a 115 K-point jump in 1986, and it was modernised further in 1996 and 2018.
The spectacular view from the site means that it remains a popular tourist attraction, with an observation lounge, accessed by a lift, giving a panoramic view of Sapporo, the Ishikari Plain and Ishikari Bay from an altitude of 307m. The renovation of the Sapporo Olympic Museum in 2017 at the foot of the mountain, and the Sapporo Olympic Museum annexe with its restaurant, have only enhanced its appeal.
The Miyanomori ski jump hill was built for the 70m ski jump and the Nordic combined. Located a kilometre south of the Okurayama hill, the design of its landing slope and outrun took maximum advantage of the natural contour of the mountain, with only 92,000 cubic metres of earth cut out.
The venue was the setting for one of the most famous moments in Japanese Olympic history – the clean sweep of medals by the “Hinomaru Squadron”, the three Japanese athletes who took gold, silver and bronze in the 70m ski jump.
The Miyanomori ski jump hill remains in use and has undergone several upgrades. In 1983, the hill was enlarged to become a 90m jump and equipped with plastic mattings for year-round operation. The jump has been upgraded on several occasions over the years, with the installation of an aluminium track with a cooling system, and then a ceramic track to allow for use during all four seasons.
The venue is a regular competition site, staging Ski Jump World Cups, Continental Cups and National Championships. It hosts the annual Sapporo Olympic Memorial Ski Jumping competition.