By Haruo Akino

On Monday, June 3rd, the World Cup game of Italy vs. Ecuador was held at Sapporo Dome. At Fukuzumi subway station, policemen and guidesa around the ticket gate were showing the way to the Dome and inspecting the tickets for the game that each spectator had. It was an hour before the game started when I arrived at the station, so I was wondering whether I could get to the Dome in time. But people walked more smoothly than I had expected, so it took only about 15 minutes to get to the Dome on foot at a natural pace. On the way to the Dome, about 30 guards at Fukuzumi station and a number of guides were standing in the rain for a distance of 20 to 30 meters showing which direction to go, so I think it helped people get to the Dome promptly. However, I didn't feel a festive atmosphere of the World Cup game on the way. I was disappointed about that.

The vivid "yellow" color of the Ecuador's supporter's flags and uniforms met my eyes the moment I came into the Dome. The Italian supporters were not in groups like Ecuador's as many Japanese were there, so it wasn't a vivid "blue" color, because the supporters were dispersed all over the Dome. They looked like specks of blue. While I was excited by the sight, I found that there were many empty seats. I checked the next day to find that there were about 8,000 empty seats. I feel sorry for a lot of people who wanted to watch the game. The policemen were inconspicuous at the Dome, but the guards in yellow fluorescent jackets surrounded the field so nobody tried to enter onto the field and everyone stayed in their seats.

Ecuador's supporters were quite lively, singing songs and shouting before the kickoff. And after the announcement of the starting line up, when the players came onto the field, everyone in the Dome united to welcome the players with a standing ovation. After singing their respective national anthems, the players dispersed to their positions on the field and the sound of the whistle signaled the beginning of the first half of the game. The crowd's exuberance rose, echoing from the ground to the ceiling of the Dome.

From the beginning to the end of the game, Italy played with strong defense and had a number of individual plays which excited supporters. The players were careful and conscious of the lateral lines and the besieged Ecuadorean players were conscious of the length of the field, so I thought they looked systematic, and they caused the Italian players to go off-sides several times. The result was 2-0 Italy with having strength in reserve.

The field was well lit and the condition of the grass was pretty good, so it was easy for the players to play on. Looking from my seat, the players of both teams didn't seem to need water so often. The temperature and humidity were good for the players. The Dome looked gloomier than other stadiums, but the lighting was very bright and enough to watch the game.

After the game, I was able to come back to the subway station without any trouble by a shuttle busﾑjust as when I went to the Dome. But on the way, lots of taxies made a long line for about two kilometers. I would like the country which sponsors World Cup games to endeavor to arouse more enthusiasm, rather than to worry about hooligans, because it is a festival which is held only once every four years.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch Japan's team play at the stadium, but it was such a precious experience to watch a live World Cup game. It is the greatest festival in the world. Everything will stay in my memory. This wonderful experience is sure to be a treasure for my whole life.