Sapporo 2017 have announced plans for a fun run on July 3 ©OCA

Sapporo 2017 have announced plans to stage a fun run to promote the eight edition of the Asian Winter Games in February.

The run will coincide with a popular marathon in the Japanese city on July 3, which normally attracts around 9,000 runners.

It is hoped that the fun run will attract around 400 more runners, while the overall event is expected to be attended by around 18,000 spectators.

Hiroyasu Shimizu, who won 500 metres speed skating gold at the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympic Games, will be invited to attend the fun run.

The five-time world champion is an ambassador for the Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games, with the ambassadors due to appear on stage.

They will also have their photos taken with the fun runners to provide them with a special souvenir of the day.

Further activities and a booth are being planned for the day, which is aimed at promoting the Asian Winter Games.

Five-time speed skating world champion Hiroyasu Shimizu will be invited to the fun run
Five-time speed skating world champion Hiroyasu Shimizu will be invited to the fun run ©Getty Images

Sapporo 2017 is due to run from February 19 to 26, 2017, featuring five sports, 11 disciplines and 64 events.

Eleven of the 12 venues are in Sapporo, with co-host Obihiro set to stage speed skating competition.

It will be the fourth time Japan has held the Games, with Sapporo having previously hosted in 1986 and 1990.

Aomori staged the fifth edition of the Games in 2003.