The 51st Hokuryu Town Sunflower Olympics 2022 (Hokuryu Town Board of Education) The laughter of energetic seniors

Friday, November 18, 2022

The 51st Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Olympics was held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 17, at the Hokuryu-cho Rural Environmental Improvement Center.

Hokuryu Town Rural Environment Improvement Center

On the day of the event, with the first snowflakes sprinkling in the morning, about 50 people aged 65 and over from various neighborhood associations, including university students from the Hokuryu-cho Himawari University and members of the Himawari Longevity Association, participated in the event and enjoyed the competition in high spirits.

Organized by: Hokuryu Town Board of Education

• Sponsored by:Hokuryu Town Board of Education
• Cooperation:Hokuryu Town Sports Promotion Committee

Moderator: Mr. Satoshiro Yamazaki, Hokuryu Town Board of Education

The competition was conducted under the general chairmanship of Mr. Soshiro Yamazaki of the Hokuryu Town Board of Education.

Greetings from the President: Mr. Kazushi Arima, Superintendent of Education, Hokuryu Town Board of Education

I would like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us today.

When I woke up this morning, it was completely white all over. Winter has finally arrived. In such a situation, I would like to warm up this gymnasium with your enthusiasm today.

The gymnasium floor has been replaced over the past three months since August. Today's event will mark the opening of the gymnasium for sports events.

We have prepared a variety of physical education events for you today. Those of you who are good at each of them, I hope you will do your best. For those of you who are not so good, I hope you will make the Olympics more exciting with loud applause and cheering.

Since this is an Olympic event, winning and losing are inevitable, but we hope that you will enjoy competing without worrying about winning or losing.

Coronavirus infections are spreading again. It is going to get colder and colder from now on. We hope that everyone will take good care of themselves.

In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to all the sports promoters, the Himawari Longevity Association, and the Senior Citizens University and Himawari University for their great cooperation in organizing this tournament. I wish you all the best today," said Mr. Arima, Superintendent of Education.

Referee's Note: Sports Promotion Committee, Okino Manabu, Chairperson

There was an explanation of the competition and the precautions to be taken during the competition.

Pledge of Allegiance: Sunflower University, Hiroshi Oji, Class President

Pledge! We, the athletes who are engaged in lifelong learning, pledge to deepen inter-community exchange, avoid injury, and enjoy this day to the fullest at the Sunflower Olympics. November 17, 2022, Athletes' Representative: Hiroshi Oji," declared Class President Hiroshi Oji.

Introduction of each team's coach

• Red group:Kazuo Shibasaki, Director (Sakuraoka, Wahonmachi)
• Yellow group:Akira Tanimoto, Director (Kosaku, Itaya, Nishikawa, Wa, Wa-higashimachi, Wa-machi, Mitani)
• White team:Hiroshi Oji, Director (Hekisui, Iwamura, Miyagyu, Kyoei)

Hokuryu Town Sports Promotion Committee and Committee Members

• Committee Chair :Manabu Okino
• Vice Chair:Hiroto Sakamaki
• Commissioner :Ryo Kato
• Commissioner :Masami Abe
• Commissioner :Hifumi Shimabayashi

Preparatory exercises (radio calisthenics)

Before the competition begins, the body is thoroughly relaxed with a full-body workout.

contest

1. association game

The respondents compete for the correct answer by using a single kanji character to express a word that reminds them of the given theme.

There were three themes: "Rabbit," "Melon," and "Beer.

• The "rabbit" hasWhite", "ear", "jump", "moon", etc.
• The "melon" hasFruit", "net", "blue", "red", "evening", etc.
• The "beer" hasSake", "foam", "barley", "cold", etc.

Everyone wrote down the kanji associated with each word.
The yellow group answered all three questions correctly!　Well done!

2. bowling

Roll the ball toward 10 bowling pins and compete for the number of pins that fall over.

3. ladder getter

Balls with strings are thrown on ladders and hooked to compete for points.

4. barrier-breaking

If you win, you go back and pass the baton to the next person, and if you lose, you go around the keeper and play rock-paper-scissors. If you win, you go back and pass the baton to the next person; if you lose, you go around the keeper and play rock-paper-scissors.

Break Time: Drink Time

5. ball drop

Compete for the time when you finish putting in all 100 balls.

6. floor curling

Each player throws the ball twice and scores points when the flocker is placed in the designated zone.

7. Aim for an upset!

Throw the ball at the numbered targets and compete for the total number of points for each target you hit.

closing ceremony

Scores and awards: Scores were announced and awards were presented to each team.

• Winner :Yellow group 73 points
• 2nd place:Red group 53 points
• 3rd Place:White Team 51 points

Comment: Koji Kawada, Chairman, Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Association of Longevity Groups

This morning, a bright white stuff fell in the north country, and now we old people are hoping to somehow get through this harsh winter.

Today's Olympic competition was a very good experience.

From now on, Hokkaido will have as many cases of corona infection as Tokyo. Under such circumstances, I believe that influenza will also spread, so I would like to overcome the year-end and New Year holidays while taking care of my health, and welcome next spring in good spirits.

I hope everyone will take good care of your health and survive the coming harsh winter.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Education and others for organizing this very enjoyable event today. Thank you very much for your hard work today," said Chairman Kawada.

Big lottery for fun

The lottery was conducted by Mr. Arima, Superintendent of Education, for the numbers indicated on the lottery tickets given in advance, and prizes were awarded.

We wish for the endless love, gratitude, and prayers for the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Olympic Games, a sport that brings smiles and energy to the minds and bodies of the town's residents as they gather together to enjoy friendly conversation.

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