聖地とは?・Hallowed ground?
今日のサンスポにこのようなコメントが書いてありました(http://www.sanspo.com/rugby/top/rg200801/rg2008012801.html)[b]「秩父宮の芝に大ブーイング」[/b] 聖地と呼ばれる秩父宮のグラウンド状態にこの日、各チームから大ブーイングが起きた。中央付近を中心に芝生が枯れ、一部は土が露出している状態に足を滑らせる選手が続出。神戸製鋼のSH後藤主将は「日本のラグビーを盛り上げるためには、この状態はナンセンス」。三洋電機のCTB榎本主将も「けが人が出ることが心配。最高の舞台で、最高のプレーをみせたい」と不安を口にした。」問題は維持管理をやっている業者の技術ではなくて、利用が多すぎるだけです。世界有数の大都会「東京」、秩父宮以外に芝生グラウンドが極端に少なく、東京でラグビーといえば、秩父宮になっちゃいます。これを改善しない限り、この「聖地」であるべき場所が一番大事な選手の間でこのような評判になり、日本ラグビーの発展が難しくなるばかりです。 Today's Sanspo, a local sports newspaper, contained the following article.Complaints about Prince Chichibunomiya turf Each team that played matches at this ground, known as rugby's Hallowed Turf, lodged bitter complaints about the ground condition. The turf is badly damaged in the central area of the ground, with the earth exposed, causing many players to lose their footing. Goto, the fly-half and captain of Kobe Steelers, said, "it is stupid to talk about improving the standard of rugby in Japan with grounds in this condition", while Enoki, the centre and vice-captain of Sanyo Electric, added that "we are constantly worried about getting injured. All we want to do is show the best possible play on the best possible surface."The problem lies not with the technical ability of the turf maintenance company but with the totally excessive use. There is a critical shortage of grass rugby fields here in Tokyo, one of the world's leading metropolises, meaning that any top rugby in Tokyo has to be played on this ground. Unless Japan does something to redress this situation, Japan's "Hallowed Turf" will continue to receive this sort of criticism from the players, who are the most important people, and the development of rugby here will be seriously hindered.