(Not) Tokyo Olympics 2020? Venue-spreading in store to counter heat

International Olympic Committee on Wednesday anunced that y have decided to shift venue of  Olympic marathon and race walking events to Sapporo. reasoning behind move to country's rrn region is that it is much cooler and will thus help athletes in specified events.

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'Shift in venue'

IOC statement re, " move to Hokkaido, rrnmost prefecture of Japan, will mean significantly lower temperatures for athletes during Olympic Games. In Sapporo, temperatures during Games are as much as five to six degrees centigre cooler during day than in Tokyo, which is more than 800 kilometers furr south.  plans are part of a wide range of measures alrey being taken by Tokyo 2020 in consultation with IOC and International Federations to mitigate effects of temperatures which may occur next summer. IOC has informed World Athletics about proposed changes. This latest initiative by IOC and Tokyo 2020 comes on top of or heat countermeasures which are alrey planned and being implemented on recommendations of IOC Medical and Scientific Commission verse Wear Impact Expert Working Group ( IOC Working Group). se measures are:

• Athletics: 5,000m and longer distance races scheduled in evening athletics sessions and t in morning sessions, and moving marathon and race walk events to earlier starting times.

• Rugby: all morning games scheduled to finish before 12 p.m.

• Cycling: mountain bike start time delayed to 3 p.m.

Committee will be holding a meeting on measures on October 30 and vember 1. 

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'Well being of athletes always a priority'

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Athletes’ health and well-being are always at heart of our concerns. A range of measures to protect athletes have alrey been anunced. new far-reaching proposals to move marathon and race walking events show how seriously we take such concerns. Olympic Games are platform where athletes can give ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ performances, and se measures ensure y have conditions to give ir best. I would like to thank World Athletics, and we look forward to working with m on implementation.”

2020 Tokyo Olympics will be taking place between July 24 and August 9.

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