This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
Published on December 4, 2019, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the men's marathon at the Tokyo Olympics will be held in Sapporo's Odori Park on the northern island of Hokkaido.
The decision was made to avoid the heat and humidity of the Japanese capital, with the event scheduled to take place early in the morning on the Games' final day.
According to Kirsty Coventry, chair of the IOC's Athletes' Commission, "Athletes' health and well-being are always at the heart of our concerns, and the decision to move the marathon and race walk events to Sapporo shows how seriously we take such concerns."
The marathon and race walk events are now scheduled to be held on four consecutive days, from August 6-9, with the Olympics running from July 24.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto added, "We appreciate that, through the support of so many people, Sapporo Odori Park could be approved as a venue so quickly following the decision to move these events."
"With less than eight months to go until the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Games, Tokyo 2020 will continue to work closely as one team with all the parties involved in their preparation," Muto said.
Schedule:
- August 6: Men's 20km race walk (10:30am)
- August 7: Men's 50km race walk (11:30pm); Women's 20km race walk (10:30am)
- August 8: Women's marathon (1:00am)
- August 9: Men's marathon (1:00am)
