Environment

Tour de Kyushu Cycling Race To Merge Sport and Sustainability

International sporting events are increasingly incorporating the SDGs, and the upcoming Tour de Kyushu, planned with sustainability in mind, is no exception.

Published

1 year ago

February 25, 2023

Susan Yoshimura

Local high school student cyclists participate in road race in Kyushu. (Photo courtesy of Tour de Kyushu).

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The first Tour de Kyushu cycling race is set to take place in the Kyushu region of Japan in October 2023. Run over a period of four days, the event expects to attract cyclists from around the world.

Starting in Fukuoka, the event will take riders through various scenic routes, including the mountainous terrain of Kumamoto and Oita prefectures.

But this race is not just about the competition – it's also about promoting sustainability.

Tour de Kyushu and Sustainability

First and foremost is encouraging cultural exchange and understanding through tourism.

Ryuzo Nakaya, Event Director at Tour de Kyushu, explains. "When people go to see the Tour de France, they also see a castle, and drink wine. Bringing people to Kyushu for this race will promote tourism too," he said.

The organizers aim to have 18 teams participating, each team with six members. Their goal is to have half of these teams come in from other countries. Combined with visits from participants and spectators from around Japan, the event is expected to provide a boost to the local economy.

Tour de Kyushu organizers have also committed to reducing the environmental impact of the race. Plans are underway to implement sustainable practices for the event.

For example, organizers are negotiating with car manufacturers in Japan on borrowing hydrogen-powered or hybrid low-carbon vehicles for the official cars that ride alongside cyclists.

Other efforts include plans to reduce plastic waste and utilize renewable energy. The creation of educational programs on the SDGs, sports, and international exchange for high school students is also in the works.

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Author: Susan Yoshimura