The Nagano Games have several themes, one of the most important of which is to inspire dreams in children. To allow as many youths as possible to be part of the Olympic Winter Games, all admission tickets for children are half the adult price--an Olympic first. Children are being encouraged to deepen their understanding of the Olympic Games, moreover, through their participation in the Snowlets Club (of which there are 5,000 members) and the One School, One Country Program, under which Nagano elementary and middle schools choose one or two countries to learn about and root for.

Another notable theme is paying homage to the beauty and bounty of nature. Special care has been taken to build Olympic facilities in ways that minimize the impact on the environment. And efforts are being made to use recyclable materials as much as possible. Staff uniforms are being made of material that can be melted down and used to make other products, and cafeterias at Olympic venues will use plates made of strained apple pulp that can be used as fertilizer instead of just being thrown away.