I've never seen anything like what's going on between the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and the IOC right now. There have been plenty of disagreements between Olympic officials and host city organizers before, but nothing like this. Those issues are usually settled privately behind closed doors. Not as a very public back-and-forth.
The root of the issue is the IOC's decision to move the marathons and race walks at next Summer's Games from Tokyo to the northern city of Sapporo, which hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. This move was made because IOC leadership, specifically President Thomas Bach, didn't like what he saw at the World Track & Field Championships in Doha, where nearly 40 percent of the competitors in the women's marathon didn't finish because of the heat (despite the race starting at midnight). Not wanting a repeat of that scene, he unilaterally decided to relocate those events to Sapporo, which is roughly 10 degrees cooler than Tokyo during the Summer.
Here's where it gets interesting, though. The IOC didn't alert anyone of this decision ahead of time. They didn't tell the people in Tokyo. They didn't tell the people in Sapporo. They just did it. In fact, a lot of people in the two cities only found out when the announcement was made. I'm not even sure if they consulted the IAAF about all of this.
So far, the IAAF has stayed out if it. And their silence on the matter has been very noticeable. Was the IAAF a part of the decision? Were they behind it? Do they have a preference one way or the other? No one knows. They haven't even released a statement on the IAAF website. Although, it's probably smart for them to not take a side. Because the races will be held regardless, whether they're in Tokyo or Sapporo.
That hasn't stopped plenty of athletes from voicing their displeasure, though. And they have a point. Canadian Evan Dunfee, who won the bronze in the men's 50 km walk in Doha, was one of the most vocal. He made the (very valid) point that the athletes have set up their training for those conditions. They knew what the weather was going to be in Doha, and they know what it's expected to be like in Tokyo. That's what they've been preparing for. Now, less than 10 months before the Games, when they're already deep into their training cycles, you're going to change things? To make it more favorable to those who haven't been putting in the work to prepare for the conditions?
Government officials in Tokyo weren't exactly happy about it, either. All of the points that they stressed were completely valid. When Tokyo was awarded the Games, this wasn't an issue. As Tokyo was preparing for the Games, the IOC praised the measures they were taking to counter the heat, from early start times to a state-of-the-art cooling system to be used throughout the course.
In response, they proposed a number of additional changes that they hoped would keep the marathons in Tokyo. That included moving the start even earlier to 5 a.m., which is sunrise in Tokyo during the summer. That's the coolest part of the day, with an average temperature of 81 degrees, which is only three degrees warmer than it is in Sapporo during that time of the year. And it was also hot during the Atlanta and Athens Olympic marathons, yet no move was made to relocate them.
They also stressed some practical points. The marathon and race walk courses were designed to showcase the city's beautiful architecture. More importantly, though, they were going to be free. Unlike in Rio, Olympic tickets are hard to come by in Japan. And they're costly. So, the race walks and marathons might've been the only opportunity some people had to see an Olympic event live.
Another concern they had was a cost-related one. A move like this isn't easy logistically. They'd already spent a bunch of money to get the course in Tokyo ready. Now they have to spend a bunch to prepare one in Sapporo. On nine months' notice!
Mostly, though, they were upset by the lack of transparency. There was no consultation. And I'm not even sure there was any advance notice. Then, after it was announced, they were told the decision was final. Although, the IOC did agree to a four-party meeting with the Tokyo government, Japanese government and Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee to discuss the change and address those concerns (why not the Sapporo government?).
When the move was first announced, IOC Coordination Commission chairman John Coates said it was "unlikely" the IOC would change its mind. After the meeting, it was indeed confirmed that the track & field road events would be moved. Although, it was essentially the IOC telling them that they have the authority to change an Olympic venue, so there was very little Tokyo could actually do about it. They did promise not to move any other events, though. (And the Paralympic marathon will likely remain in Tokyo.)
Why not? Why just the marathons and race walks? Why not any other endurance events in other sports? Will it be less hot and humid during the cycling road races or the triathlons? Or was it just because track & field is the marquee Olympic sport and made a dumb decision to have its World Championships in Doha? And if those World Championships hadn't been in Doha, would the IOC have freaked out about next year? They already knew it was going to be hot in Tokyo, yet it's suddenly a major issue now?
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who has been the most vocal critic of the IOC's decision and spearheaded the campaign to keep the marathons in Tokyo, remains unconvinced that this is the right move. But she also acknowledged there was nothing she could do about it. She expressed her disappointment and stressed that this isn't an agreement. It's the IOC exercising its authority to make the call, whether the people in Tokyo like it or not.
How much this will ultimately end up impacting the Tokyo/Sapporo Olympic marathons remains to be seen. Sapporo is also hosting some soccer games, so they were already going to play a small role in these Olympics. And this will give the IOC an opportunity to go there and check the city out (without violating any rules) in advance of Sapporo's likely bid for the 2030 Winter Games.
But I definitely feel for the athletes, who not only have to adjust their training regimens, but are going from being right in the heart of the host city to competing 700 miles away. This is especially tough for the athletes in the men's marathoners, which is traditionally held on the final day. Will any of them even be able to make it back to Tokyo for the Closing Ceremony? Although, the conditions they'll be racing in also figure to be much more favorable.
Ultimately, this is a bad look for both parties. The IOC might've made the right move. They might not have. But, either way, they could've handled it better. At the very least, they could've given Tokyo (and Sapporo) a head's up. Tokyo, meanwhile, had a very public spat with the IOC and ended up the loser. Now they need lick their wounds and regroup. Because, as they've noted, the 2020 Olympics are less than 10 months away!
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