years after the Olympics, M-Wave and Spiral, which was used for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton were singled out as examples of successful usage. In particular, M-Wave remains profitable. The economic ripple effect from the National Junior High School Skating Championships, which have taken place at M-Wave and Big Hat every year since 2008, alone brings in 250 million yen. M-Wave Corporation operates M-Wave and Big Hat, which is now a multipurpose sport, theatre, and meeting venue. Since January, 2019, the president of M-Wave Corporation is Shinichi Takizawa, formerly of JTB Corporation and past managing director of the Nagano Convention and Visitors Bureau. Speed Skating Championship Events 1997 World Allround Speed Skating Championships The 1997 World Allround Speed Skating Championships were held between February 14 and 16, 1997 at the M-Wave. The Allround Speed Skating Championships are annual speed skating championships. Over two days, skaters race the 500m and 1000m on two days each, each once in the inner lane and once in the outer lane, for both races. The 1997 event was held as a test event for M-Wave in preparation for the 1998 Winter Olympics. The women's medalists were Gunda Niemann - gold, Claudia Pechstein - silver, and Tonny de Jong - bronze. The men's medalists were Ids Postma - gold, Keiji Shirahata - silver, and Frank Dittrich - bronze. 1998 Winter Olympics During the 1998 Winter Olympics, M-Wave hosted the long—track speed skating events between 8 February and 20 February. In all, ten events were contested, five each in women's and men's speed skating: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and 5000m for both men and mown, and 3000m for women and 10,000m for men. A total of 25 nations participated in long-track speed skating at these games, with eight nations winning medals, including the Netherlands with eleven, Germany with six, Canada with five, and host nation Japan with three. Nine athletes were multiple medal winners. Both Marianne Timmer and Gianni Romme won two gold medals each. Both Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann and Rintje Ritsma won three medals each. Other multiple medal winners were Catriona Le May Doan, Claudia Pechstein, Chris Witty, Ids Postma, and Hiroyasu Shimizu. Five world records and twelve Olympic records were set at the M-Wave during the 1998 Winter Olympics. The world records were set by Marianne Timmer (1500m), Claudia Pechstein (5000m), Gianni Romme (5000m and 10000m), and Ådne Søndrål (1500m). 1999 Asian Speed Skating Championships The 1999 Asian