(ATR) The venue change for the marathon and race walk events is now official. The IOC Executive Board ratified the switch from Tokyo to Sapporo, a move taken as a countermeasure to concerns about heat and athlete safety.
IOC President Thomas Bach initiated the push to move the venue for the road racing events after watching the troubles encountered in September during the Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar. A number of competitors needed medical care due to heat, even though the events were scheduled for midnight.
The schedule for the events in Sapporo was also approved at today’s meeting of the EB in Lausanne. Race walking events will take place August 6 and 7. The women’s marathon is set for August 8 and the men’s marathon on August 9, the closing day of the Olympics. The marathon start time both days is 0700.
Open Water Swim Heat Worries
The Associated Press reports that concerns are being raised over the water temperature at the venue in Tokyo for the 10k open water swim competition. Water temperatures at Odaiba Marine Park during a test event this summer were just below the limit set by FINA.
The AP quotes Catherine Kase, coach for open water for the United States Olympic team.
"If a marathoner faints or passes out, they may get a few bumps and bruises. If the same thing happens to an open-water swimmer, the result could be lethal," she tells AP.
"We would like to push for a viable back-up plan. The straightforward answer is that we are not comfortable with the Odaiba venue," she is quoted.
FINA rule say that if the water temperature is above the limit of 29.45 Celsius, the event can be shortened or canceled.
Swimmers are also concerned about the level of E. coli bacteria in the water.
So far there is no alternative venue planned.
Tokyo 2020 Chief Returns to United Nations
Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori once paid visits to the UN in New York as Prime Minister of Japan. On December 9 he will return to make his pitch for the Olympic Truce resolution that to be adopted by the General Assembly.
Marching Order Revised for Opening Ceremony
The IOC EB has okayed a change in the order for teams marching in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
The team from Greece will retain its traditional spot at the head of the procession. Second spot will go now to the refugee team that is now organized at each Olympics by the IOC. Afghanistan, first in the alphabetic order of National Olympic Committees, will then take its turn.
Host nation Japan will be the final team marching into the stadium as is customary. But beginning in Tokyo the next-to-last spot will go to the next country hosting the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. In this case, France and the US will take these positions with Paris hosting 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.
The IOC says the changes are being made to bring extra attention to the refugee team as well as the hosts of the next Games.
Reported by Ed Hula.
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