From Inside the Games
Race walks and the women’s marathon at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo have been rescheduled, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) moved the events from the Japanese capital to Sapporo.
Tokyo 2020 confirmed Odori Park as the venue for the race walks and marathons at the Games following approval from the IOC Executive Board at its meeting here today.
Events in the two disciplines will be held across four consecutive days, from August 6 to 9, to “facilitate the support of National Olympic Committee officials and coaches to the athletes” owing to the 800-kilometres distance from Tokyo to Sapporo.
The men’s marathon will remain on August 9, despite pressure from Tokyo 2020 to move the race for logistical reasons following the controversial late switch of the events to Sapporo, which surprised the Organising Committee.
The women’s race was initially scheduled for August 2 but has been pushed back six days to August 8.
Both events will start at 7:00 am, organisers have confirmed.
The men’s 20km race walk will take place on August 6 instead of July 31, while the men’s 50km race walk has been brought forward a day from August 8 to 7.
The women’s 20km race will be staged on August 7 as planned but will start at 4:30 pm rather than 6:00 am.
