Arab News Japan 

TOKYO: Japan’s only artificial Olympic Canoe Slalom course opened to the Japanese public on Friday. 

Nearly 300 Tokyo citizens registered to attend the event in Kasai Rinkai Koen Park where six kayakers and canoeists demonstrated how to use the facility.

The event, which lasts from November 26 to November 29, is an opportunity to introduce the public to the differences between canoeing and kayaking and to attract a new audience. Volunteers from the Olympic Games posed for commemorative photos.

A mother with her two daughters told Arab News that the experience was rewarding, but that she was unable to attend competitions due to the pandemic.

Three young Japanese Olympians met the press after training in the Olympic facility, which has artificially generated waves.

Kazuya Adachi, Takuya Haneda and young athlete Aki Yazawa took questions from reporters. In response to a question from Arab News about whether they prefer artificial or natural courses, they replied that they like both.

They added that they hope the public will take more interest in their sport. They also hoped that this course will attract foreign competitors.

The competition course is 200 meters long, and the warm-up runis 180 meters long.