Image search results - "athletes" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "athletes"

Each team had to have 3 to 5 people performing 90 sec. to 120 sec. long. The routine was required to include jumping jacks, kicks, and push ups.

The contestants had to be at least 20 years old, but I think most people looked middle-aged.

Aerobics team from Hiroshima.

Aerobics team from Shiga.

Aerobics team from Tokushima.

Aerobics team from Miyagi.

After the aerobics performances, there was a one-hour lunch break at noon, and a group picture-taking session of all the aerobics teams and officials.

Group shot

Maibara's official mascot, a family of fireflies.

Posters for aerobics teams made by local school children.

Poster for the Tokimeki Silvers

The hall lobby had posters showing Maibara's major sights.

The hall lobby also had articles and snapshots of the aerobics event the day before.

Outside the hall were a few food booths and Spo-rec mascot Caffy walking around.

After lunch, everyone participated in a joint aerobics session at 1 pm with a well-known instructor.

This one-hour joint aerobics session was called the "Memorial Program."

At 2 pm, all the teams sat in the front to listen to the announcement of the winners.

As each winner was announced, the respective team cheered and went backstage. The senior group was of course a winner.

The MC was an NHK Otsu TV newscaster.

The winning teams performed their routines again.

Aerobics team from Hiroshima.

Awards ceremony with the winning teams on stage.

ときめきシルバーズ

The three South Korean aerobics teams were awarded with the International Exchange Award.

Athletes from Shiga at the opening ceremony.

Then representatives from all 47 prefectures marched through the crowd.

Each flag had the name of the prefecture. This is Miyazaki.

Athletes from Miyazaki Prefecture hold a sign saying "See you next year in Miyazaki!"

Shiga athletes applaud as the different athletes marched past.

Gunma

Tokyo

Nagano

Shiga

Flags for all the prefectures.

The contingent from South Korea also marched to their seats from the center stage.

The opening ceremony stage was at the front and center, looking very tiny to most of us. Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada is in a yellow pants suit.

Large monitor shows Governor Kada declaring the opening of the Spo-rec event.

On the right was a large stage for the band.

Over 20,000 people competed in the sports tournaments held all over Shiga. They included soccer, softball, badminton, bowling, track, gate ball, folk dancing, aerobics, and trampoline.

This sports meet is designed for adults of all ages. You can be 95 years old and still participate. They call it a "life-long sports meet."

Caffy cap

Giant balls were tossed to the audience. They slapped the balls toward the front, but many of them popped like a balloon.

The next activity, representing water, was having a huge blue sheet covering the spectators. The opening ceremony had a theme based on water, humans, and the sky.