Provide a brief description about the goals of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Nagano had three goals: (1) Promote the participation of children, (2) pay homage to nature, and (3) host a festival of peace and friendship. Some examples of how these three goals were implemented and their attendant outcomes are as follows:

(1) Goal 1: Each of the local schools was assigned a specific country and served as "host" to that country's athletes once they arrived in Nagano. The children made flags, studied the culture and customs of their assigned country, and cheered for the athletes of that country.
(2) Goal 2: Protection of the environment was a critical concern. In this respect, the Nagano Organizing Committee performed admirably. The official uniforms of the host committee and staff were made from fully recyclable materials. Approximately 1,000 tons of garbage from the games were recycled. Construction of the venues necessitated the removal of trees; however, "replacement trees" exceeded the number of trees cut down. The organizing committee paid close attention to the delicate balance between nature and the needs of the athletes and spectators. Aesthetic concerns were not ignored, as all of the utility cables were carefully buried underground. The results were a beautiful location to welcome the world and the establishment of an environmental legacy that would benefit future generations.
(3) Goal 3: For the most part, the atmosphere in Nagano was serene and peaceful, although there were legitimate security concerns. Various political organizations and their factions could resort to extreme measures to call attention to their causes and send a message by engaging in acts of terrorism. Among the precautions taken to discourage would-be terrorists were the issuance of barcoded identification cards for staff and media, a fingerprint scanner at the accreditation center, and an eye scanner at the biathlon venue to control the rifles used in this event. The Nagano Organizing Committee used the services of over 3,000 security personnel to ensure the safety of the athletes and spectators. In addition, cyberterrorists were a new problem that had to be addressed by security experts.