Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), chairs an Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Photo: REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
sports

Details confirmed for Tokyo Olympic marathon, race walks

15 Comments

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15 Comments
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Well, it seems to me that when they want to things CAN get decided pretty quickly! I was half expecting to hear that they moved the events back to Tokyo!(sarcasm)

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The IOC finally brought some sense to the 2020 games.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I think the IOC overstepped here, they should have asked Tokyo to move the marathon instead of forcing it. The marathon was the only even anyone could goto without a ticket and allows filming of the entire city...

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Yuriko Koike said the IOC was inconsistent since it had known about Tokyo’s heat since the games were awarded in 2013.

The Tokyo bidders were inconsistent since they had known about Tokyo's heat since forever, and yet claimed in the bid that Tokyo summers were pleasant.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Although the IOC may have been overbearing with their decision to move the events to Sapporo, against the wishes of Mayor Koike, it is sometimes better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Did we realize that Tokyo summers were hot and humid only after Tokyo won the Olympic bid? I'm sure some of us knew before that. Very strange how nobody said anything.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

IOC to Sapporo:

Sapporo: We want the 2030 Olympics

IOC: Tokyo 2020 Marathon

Sapporo: OKAY!

IOC: Done deal, Sapporo 2030 is yours.

2030 coldest winters in decades, decides to host some events in Tokyo due to it being too cold. Boy would that be the irony!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The news last night was full of the fact that the details have NOT been finalized. As the article says in para 4, the first half of the marathon course has been agreed upon. But this is where it gets tricky apparently. One lot wanted this large 20 km loop run a second time to the finish line. Another group wanted a series of small loops for ease of administration. Since they cannot agree, the first long loop is a compromise between the two, and the rest has been put off, with frustration starting to surface among those, including athletes, needing an early answer.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the IOC was inconsistent since it had known about Tokyo’s heat since the games were awarded in 2013.

Someone should tell to this liar and history revisionist (as usual with the Japanese), it's the Japan bidders who claimed that Tokyo weather was pleasant during summer. So who is inconsistent?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the IOC was inconsistent since it had known about Tokyo’s heat since the games were awarded in 2013.

and the Tokyo committee did absolutely nothing to avoid the heat which is the very reason why the IOC stepped in. Koike should have arranged a 9pm start time - very humid but no direct daytime sun stroke.

The Japanese want everything set a year in advance purely for commercial reasons. They even selected four of their runners one year ahead (!) just so they can sell them on commercials. They'll be lucky if two out of the four make it to August 2020.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The other strange thing is the 7:00 am start. They were looking at a 5:00 am start in Tokyo.

Since Sapporo is only one or two degrees cooler on average, if it is another particularly hot summer in Japan, this later time will partly or totally cancel out any benefit of having moved the marathon north to Sapporo.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

nanda, they are idiots who are clearly aligning to worldwide tv revenue. Maybe it also hits the primetime breakfast tv slot. They are idiots because Sapporo is cooler in the night time in summer - and as you say day time can be as hot as Kanto.

I also believe they want to benefit the Japanese runners over Western runners by running it in the heat - their marathon trial was run this summer so the winners run well in those conditions.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Dubi said the IOC would look at meeting some of the extra costs of moving the races, such as accommodation, while Sapporo would also help pay for organizing events now taking place in the city.

Didn't Sapporo major say that it was ok but they were not to pay ? And the IOC would only look at meeting some of the extra costs ? So perhaps they will not meet a way to do it, isn't it.

All countries around the world should screw the olympic until the IOC start opening its wallet.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

17 people in the photo then you realize it's only half the table!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sapporo would also help pay for organizing events now taking place in the city.

Sapporo shouldn't be paying a penny while the IOC is awash in cashola

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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