Photo/Illutration People pack the streets of Sapporo to take photos of Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, who won the women’s Olympic marathon on Aug. 7. (Takeshi Suzuki)

SAPPORO--The mayor of Sapporo praised residents for the smooth running of Olympic events in the Hokkaido capital but indicated the city may review its plan to host the 2030 Winter Games.

“It is true that the streets (of Sapporo) were crowded with spectators during some of the events,” Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto told reporters on Aug. 10, two days after the Tokyo Olympics ended. “But we were able to finish the Olympics without major problems, thanks to the cooperation of many residents who refrained from watching the events in person.”

The city hosted Olympic soccer games at Sapporo Dome without spectators.

In addition, the marathons and race-walk competitions were moved to the northern main island to protect the endurance athletes from Tokyo’s notorious sweltering summer heat.

The Olympic organizing committee had asked people to refrain from showing up to watch the races that were held on public roads in Sapporo between Aug. 5 and 8, citing a resurgence in novel coronavirus infections.

Akimoto and Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki made the same request at news conferences.

Despite those requests and the hot and humid weather in Sapporo, spectators flocked to the streets on the days of the events.

Akimoto said he believes many residents complied with his request by comparing the situation to a pre-pandemic scene in 2016, when 100,000 to 150,000 people packed the streets of Sapporo to watch the victory parade for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Japan Series baseball champion.

The mayor added that the Olympic events gave Sapporo a “perfect opportunity” to show the world the city’s beautiful landscape.

As for the flow of people during the Games, Akimoto said the number of visitors from outside of Hokkaido was rising to the level seen last October. He said the increase was partly due to the three-day weekend that started the day before the Olympics ended.

“We are bracing for a possible increase in new infections in two weeks,” he said.

Sapporo, the site of the 1972 Winter Olympics, is aiming to host another Winter Games in 2030.

Akimoto said the city’s campaign could change.

“We are thoroughly discussing what a sustainable Olympics should be and reviewing some parts of the plan,” Akimoto said.

He said his city plans to survey residents about their opinions on whether Sapporo should host the Winter Games.

The mayor also said he met Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, after the women’s marathon on Aug. 7.

“He told me that we showed we are capable of hosting not only a Winter Olympics but also a Summer Games,” Akimoto said.

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