This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made the decision to relocate the Tokyo 2020 marathon and race walking events to Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, due to concerns about heat.
According to the IOC, temperatures in Tokyo during July and August, when the city hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games, commonly exceed 30 degrees Celsius, with high humidity adding to the discomfort.
IOC President Thomas Bach stated, 'Athletes' health and well-being are always at the heart of our concerns. The new far-reaching proposals to move the marathon and race walking events show how seriously we take such concerns.'
The decision to move the events was made in response to the heat and humidity experienced during the recent world athletics championships in Doha, which prompted athletes and officials to discuss weather conditions.
Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, has temperatures during the period that are as much as five to six degrees centigrade cooler during the day than in Tokyo, making it a more suitable location for the events.
