Olympic organisers learn from Doha chaos as Tokyo 2020 marathons moved to Sapporo to avoid stifling heat
Olympic organisers have taken drastic measures to avoid a repeat of shocking scenes seen at the recent World Athletics Championships by moving the Tokyo 2020 marathons and race walks to Sapporo – more than 800 kilometres away from the host city.
Close to half the women’s marathon field dropped out in Doha last month as high temperatures and unbearable humidity caused multiple athletes to collapse and require medical treatment.
Concerns have been raised that a similar scenario could play out in Japan at the Olympics next year, after temperatures of 41 degrees last summer resulted in the death of almost 100 people.
To mitigate against another heat wave, the original Olympic marathon route in Tokyo had been painted with a special substance that organisers claimed would reduce road surface temperature and therefore air temperature immediately above it by up to eight degrees.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have now decided to take even more extreme measures, shifting the marathons and race walks to the far north of the country in Sapporo, which played host to the 1972 Winter Olympics. The IOC claim the move should see temperatures 5-6C cooler during the day than in Tokyo.
Britain’s Tom Bosworth, who finished seventh in the 20km race walk in Doha, said: “Great to see the athletes/officials/spectators are more of a priority in Tokyo over Doha, but slightly disappointed to see it moved so far from the actual Olympics.”
In further efforts to mitigate against the heat, organisers have also confirmed no distance race longer than 5,000m will take place during morning sessions, all rugby matches will finish before midday and the mountain bike start time will be delayed to 3pm.
Thomas Bach, IOC president, said: “Athletes’ health and well-being are always at the heart of our concerns. A range of measures to protect the athletes have already been announced.
“The new far-reaching proposals to move the marathon and race walking events show how seriously we take such concerns. The Olympic Games are the platform where athletes can give ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ performances, and these measures ensure they have the conditions to give their best.”
Sebastian Coe, World Athletics president, said: “Giving athletes the best platform for their performances within the environment they are in is central to all major events.”
