Abstract
The Mt. Eniwa downhill events site was constructed for the XI Olympic Winter Games, which
were held in Sapporo in 1972 （1972 Sapporo Winter Games）. The facilities were dismantled and the
site was reforested after the Games, which represents an early example of an environmental issue
addressed by the Olympic Movement.
The purpose of this study is to clarify the process that led to the completion of the facilities and
the measures taken by the OCOG in response to the request to retain the facilities.
The historical materials used for this study include the minutes of the Organizing Committee for
Olympic Games （OCOG） and the administrative documents of the government.
The results of this study are summarized as follows:
・ The Ministry of Health and Welfare approved construction on the condition that the facilities
on Mt. Eniwa be removed within one year of the Games and trees be cut to the minimum extent
necessary and promptly replanted. Subsequently, government of Hokkaido gave the OCOG
approval to construct facilities as needed.
・ In 1971, Hokkaido gave the OCOG approval to improve the athletes’ pathways and the course.
The purpose of this course improvement was to ensure safe competition based on the operational
results of the pre-games and the points raised by the F´ed´eration Internationale de Ski.
・ There was an opinion that the Mt. Eniwa downhill events site should be a permanent facility.
However, the OCOG decided to dismantle the facility and reforest the site as originally planned.
The decision was made because the OCOG wanted to avoid the growing criticism in the
international community for ignoring and neglecting environmental issues.
