The decision to shift the races to Sapporo has been made. All parties involved in these events must work together and quickly make preparations that will enable the city to host these races.
It has been decided that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathons and race walking events will be held in Sapporo. The Tokyo metropolitan government has accepted the International Olympic Committee's motion to shift the races. Considering the midsummer heat of Tokyo, this was a decision that could not be avoided.
It has been confirmed that the Tokyo government will not bear any additional costs arising from the races' relocation, and that no other event venues will be changed. The IOC, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and other parties will later figure out the details of how to cover these expenses.
The triathlon, in which athletes run a long distance, and equestrian events will be held in Tokyo, but their starting times will be brought forward. Concerns had been raised over the effect of the searing temperatures on horses, which do not cope well with heat. The IOC's decision to keep these events in Tokyo shows a degree of consideration for the city.
To make up for the venue change, the IOC side has proposed a marathon be held on the Tokyo course after the Games are finished. This is worth considering, if it can be done in a way agreeable to Tokyo residents.
There is still some opacity in the process for deciding on the venue change.
The organizing committee was presented with the IOC's motion to hold the events in Sapporo, but it did not quickly notify the Tokyo metropolitan government. It cannot be denied that this added fuel to the confusion that erupted and showed a lack of consideration for the host city.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike described the relocation as "a decision reached without an agreement." It is not surprising that the Tokyo government resented being left out of the loop. Be that as it may, the marathon is a glamour event for the Olympics, so it is hoped that the Tokyo government will also cooperate as much as it can to ensure the races go ahead smoothly in Sapporo.
However, many hurdles will need to be overcome for Sapporo to successfully hold the events.
Selecting the course is the biggest problem. Several proposals have been bandied about, including the Hokkaido Marathon course that has Odori Park as both the start and finish lines, and a course that would make a circuit around the center of the city. Steps such as measuring the course distance and holding practice events should be done in a planned manner.
One option that has been floated would see the men's and women's marathons held on the same day, and the women's 20-kilometer walk on the same day as the men's race. Such a formula has never been used at the Olympics before. If this schedule is adopted, meticulous planning will be required on details such as setting the start times for the men's and women's races.
Preparations to assist and look after people involved in the events must be quickly made. This includes finding accommodation facilities for participating athletes and other people from all over the world, and recruiting volunteers to help run the event.
Many fans bought tickets to watch these races on the assumption they would be held in Tokyo. The organizing committee must diligently ensure refunds are smoothly paid.
Some Japanese athletes, who have been gearing up for races they expected would go ahead in Tokyo, have expressed bewilderment over the venue change. These athletes should now put such feelings behind them and concentrate on preparing for their competitions. Athletic organizations should also do everything they can to support the athletes and enable them to give their best performance at the Games.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8, 2019)
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