5月31日に「チャレンジデー2023」を開催するにあたり、国内主催団体の笹川スポーツ財団(渡邉一利理事長)は対戦カードを公表した。秋田北地方関係は「文化遺産対決」と銘打ち、鹿角市と北秋田市が対決する。

　チャレンジデーは日常的なスポーツの習慣化や住民の健康増進、地域の活性化に向けたきっかけづくりを目的とする住民総参加型のスポーツイベントで、毎年5月の最終水曜日に世界中で実施。人口規模によって6つのカテゴリーに分類され、同じカテゴリー内の自治体同士が午前零時から午後9時までの間に、15分以上継続して運動やスポーツに汗を流した住民の参加率を競う。

　敗れた自治体は勝者の旗を庁舎に掲揚して健闘を称え、この対戦をきっかけに自治体間での継続的な交流も生まれているという。31回目を数える今年は、全国で前年と同様68市町村(35市28町5村)の参加を見込み、うち本県からは25市町村中15市町村がエントリー。

　秋田北地方のうち最大の"目玉"のひとつは、ユネスコ無形文化遺産の「大日堂舞楽」を有する鹿角市と、世界文化遺産の「伊勢堂岱遺跡」を有する北秋田市による「文化遺産対決」。平成24年(2012年)に三種町琴丘地区と横手市大雄地区による地区対決はあったものの、自治体対決は県内初となる。

　また、大館市は岐阜県の羽島市と対戦するほか、小坂町は青森県の田子町、群馬県の南牧村との三つどもえ戦で頂点を目指す。上小阿仁村は前年と同様、対戦相手を設けないオープン参加。

　ちなみに、前年の秋田北地方は鹿角市と北秋田市が対戦相手に競り勝ち、小坂町が快勝、大館市が三つどもえ戦でトップに約10ポイントの差をつけられて2位だった。

　さらに、カテゴリー別に人口と参加率を勘案して授与するメダル認定証は、大館市と北秋田市がそれぞれ金、小坂町が銀、鹿角市が銅、オープン参加の上小阿仁村が銀メダル。

　同財団は「コロナ対策を講じながら、新たなプログラムを展開予定」としており、秋田北地方の各市町村も今後、広報などを通じて多くの参加を呼びかける。  (午前零時)

下段は記事英訳

By English

In preparation for the "Challenge Day 2023" on May 31, the Sasakawa Sports Foundation (with Chairman Kazutoshi Watanabe) announced the match-ups for the domestic organizers. The Akita North Region will hold a "Cultural Heritage Showdown" between Kazuno City and Kitaakita City.

Challenge Day is a citizen participation sports event aimed at promoting daily sports habits, improving residents' health, and revitalizing communities. It is held worldwide every year on the last Wednesday of May. It is divided into six categories based on population size, and municipalities in the same category compete for the participation rate of residents who engage in sports or exercise for 15 minutes or more between midnight and 9 p.m.

The defeated municipality raises the winner's flag at the government building to acknowledge their efforts, and this competition has also led to ongoing exchanges between municipalities. This year marks the 31st event, with 68 municipalities (35 cities, 28 towns, and 5 villages) expected to participate nationwide, including 15 cities and towns from Akita Prefecture out of 25 entries.

One of the highlights of the Akita North Region is the "Cultural Heritage Showdown" between Kazuno City, which has the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage "Dainichido Bugaku," and Kitaakita City, which has the world cultural heritage site "Ishidodai Archaeological Site." While there was a district showdown between the Kinnoke and Oono districts of Misato Town in 2012, this will be the first municipality showdown in the prefecture.

In addition, Odate City will face Hashima City in Gifu Prefecture, and Kosaka Town will compete in a three-way battle with Tagata Town in Aomori Prefecture and Nanmoku Village in Gunma Prefecture to aim for the top spot. On the other hand, Kamioka Village will participate in the open category without a designated opponent, as in the previous year.

Incidentally, in the Akita North Region last year, Kazuno City and Kitaakita City won their matchups, Kosaka Town had a decisive victory, and Odate City placed second with a difference of about 10 points in the three-way battle.

Furthermore, medals and certificates will be awarded according to population and participation rates in each category. Odate City and Kitaakita City will receive gold medals, Kosaka Town will receive a silver medal, Kazuno City will receive a bronze medal, and Kamioka Village, which participates in the open category, will receive a silver medal.

The foundation plans to "implement new programs while taking measures against COVID-19," and each city and town in the Akita North Region will call for more participation through public relations and other means in the future.

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