The 1st Asian Winter Games, aso known as Sapporo 1986, were held from March 1 to 8, 1986 in Sapporo, Japan. The Japanese Olympic Committee first suggested the idea of having a continent-wide winter version of the Asian Games in 1982. With Sapporo's expertise and infrastructure available after successfully hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics, the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Seoul in 1984 decided to give Japan the privilege of hosting the first ever Asian Winter Games. Participating in a total of 35 events in seven sports were 430 athletes and officials from seven countries.
Mari Motohashi is a Japanese curler. She currently plays third on Team Honoka Sasaki.
The Asian Winter Games (AWG) is an international multi-sport event held every four years for members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) which features winter events. The Japanese Olympic Committee first suggested the idea of holding a winter version of the Asian Games in 1982. Their efforts were rewarded when they were finally given hosting rights for the first edition that was held in Sapporo in 1986, as the city had the infrastructure and expertise gained from hosting of the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Speed skating at the 1986 Asian Winter Games took place in Makomanai Skating Centre Sapporo in the city of Sapporo, Japan with nine events contested – five for men and four for women.
Alpine skiing at the 1986 Asian Winter Games took place in Sapporo, Japan from 4 to 6 March 1986 with four events contested — two each for men and women.
Figure skating has been contested at the Asian Winter Games since 1986. It was not included in 1990 because of conflicting with 1990 World Figure Skating Championships.
Republic of Korea has competed at every celebration of the Asian Games except the 1951 Asian Games, including hosting the Summer Games in 1986, 2002, and 2014 and the Winter Games in 1999.
Speed skating has been featured as a sport in the Asian Winter Games since the first winter games in 1986.
Alpine skiing has been featured as a sport in the Asian Winter Games since the first Winter Games in 1986.
Short-track speed skating has been featured as a sport in the Asian Winter Games since the first winter games in 1986.
Biathlon has been featured as a sport in the Asian Winter Games since the first winter games in 1986.
Cross-country skiing has been contested at the Asian Winter Games since the first Winter Games in 1986.
Kenichi Sugio (JPN)
Kim Chang-hwan (PRK)
Wang Qiang (CHN)
Kim Ki-hoon (KOR)
Lee Jun-hwan (KOR)
Takafumi Nishitani (JPN)
Seo Yi-ra (KOR)
