For test events, M-Wave Arena in Nagano hosted the World Allround Speed Skating Championships in 1997. That same year, the Iizuna Kogen Ski Area hosted the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships. The biggest test event controversy occurred at the Happo'one Resort for the men's downhill event in February 1996, when the FIS, supported by most of the leading skiers, stated that the was too short. The request by FIS and the skiers was to move the start of the course up either by or 15 seconds. The Nagano Organizing Committee (NAOC) refused to move the course on the grounds that it be moved into a protected national park Special Zone and that it would contradict one of NAOC's Vision of Coexistence with the environment. The FIS pointed out that over 600,000 skiers annually participated in that zone annually, and questioned why Olympic-class skiers could not compete in that same area. A threat to not hold the event in Japan was also issued by the FIS. It would not be until 1–2 November 1997 before a compromise could be reached among the FIS, IOC, and NAOC, where the start was moved up to its final length of .