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From the Olympics Toword Tomorrow
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Sumo wrestlers fight cold with body warmers
Japan Sumo Association (JSA) officials say they have prepared enough ''kairo'' heaters for a total of 180 sumo wrestlers and their personal attendants taking part in rehearsals for the opening ceremony as well as the gala event.
The two-hour-long gala event will begin at 11 a.m. in the outdoor Minami Nagano Sports Park stadium, where the mercury is not expected to climb above 4 C.
''I believe we have about 1,000 (body warmers),'' says stablemaster Isenoumi, a JSA official in charge of publicity.
The wrestlers, who easily weigh over 100 kilograms, have shrunk from the cold since they arrived in Nagano on Wednesday and have been complaining they might catch a cold.
''It's cold. I want to go back home as soon as possible,'' said ozeki Wakanohana after a rehearsal Thursday.
While Wakanohana and other sumo wresters who serve as placard-holders during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony would be wearing haori and hakama robes, yokozuna Akebono and his two helpers who will be doing sumo's dohyo-iri ''ring purification'' ritual will have nothing on except a loincloth and a ceremonial apron.
Sumo experts say that Akebono, who stands at 2.04 meters and weighs 234 kilograms, would not paste warmers all over his naked body as it would be too unsightly.
''Kairo'' warmers are little patches that emit low heat over a long period of time. Some come with strips of adhesive which allow users to paste them on their body.
(Kyodo News)
No part of the article, photographs, or illustrations presented here may be printed or used without permission.
Copyright 1998 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun