SAPPORO - Three young athletes from Thailand are practicing cross-country skiing in the town of Higashikawa in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, hoping to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.
The Thais, all in their 20s, arrived in Higashikawa in October last year under the town government's programme to train competitive cross-country skiers from snow-free countries. The training will last until March 2016.
The town government has allocated a budget of 7 million yen (1.9 million baht) for the programme to offer skis and other gear as well as lodging in a town-owned dormitory.
In the town, located at the foot of Daisetsuzan National Park, skiing is possible from late October through May the following year. While cross-country skiers of Japan's national team engage in intensive training in the town, a large number of residents enjoy the sport.
The town, which has accepted many foreign students wishing to learn the Japanese language, launched the cross-country skiing programme to promote the sport in snow-free nations, hoping that it can increase its name recognition if skiers from such countries compete in Olympics.
The three Thais had never skied before coming to the town. They were chosen for the programme by the Thai government because of their athletic ability and willingness to learn cross-country skiing.
The town office has set up a team of five coaches including Yoshiyuki Yanbe, a 66-year-old former national coach, for them.
For now, the three Thais wish to participate in international competitions authorised by the International Ski Federation. They dream of competing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
Chehleh Arisaman, 24, the oldest of the three, said, "As lots of people support us, we will practice hard to participate in Olympics."