TOKYO: The 2020 Olympic marathon and race-walking will be moved to northern Japan over heat concerns, officials said yesterday, after Tokyo’s governor offered her reluctant support.
The International Olympic Committee’s plan had caught Tokyo and 2020 organisers by surprise, with Governor Yuriko Koike (pic) repeatedly expressing her opposition. But yesterday, she said the city would not stand in the way.
“We cannot agree with the IOC but we will not obstruct the decision made by the IOC, which has the final decision-making authority,” she said at a meeting with Olympic officials and organisers.
“In other words, this is a decision without an agreement.”
The IOC announced last month that it wanted to move the events north to Sapporo, citing concerns about the hot and humid conditions of the Tokyo summer.
John Coates, head of the IOC’s coordination commission, welcomed Koike’s statement as well as assent from Japan’s Olympic minister and the 2020 organisers.
“I think then it’s clear we do have an acceptance of this proposal,” he said.
“These are going to be outstanding, outstanding, successful Games.”
Coates said the IOC had agreed with the Tokyo government and the organisers that no other 2020 events would be moved, and that Tokyo would not bear any costs related to moving the marathon and race-walking.
He said the body would also look with Tokyo at expenses the city has already incurred to prepare for hosting the events that will now be held in Sapporo, in the northern island of Hokkaido.
Despite her comments,
Koike made clear that the city remains aggrieved by both the decision and the abrupt way it was announced.
She said she remained convinced that holding the events in Tokyo was “the best idea”, and evoked the disappointment of Tokyo residents who “have worked so hard in preparation for this event”.
Speaking after the meeting she said some residents had already reserved seats at cafes or even bought condos with views of the route. But she said she had consulted legal experts but determined “the absolute power of the IOC.”
Dragging out the issue “would only cause further burden on athletes,” she added. – AFP
