Plan to move Olympic marathon, race-walking stirs Tokyo dissent

Tokyo's goverr said Friday she opposes moving next year's Olympic marathon and race-walking events to rrn Japan over heat fears, describing proposal as a "bolt from blue." International Olympic Committee anunced earlier this month it would propose shifting marathon and race walking to rrn Japan's Sapporo over persistent concerns that Tokyo's summer heat could pose health risks for athletes. Local media reported overnight Thursday that Tokyo may counter that proposal by suggesting keeping marathon in capital but moving start time to as early as 3 am. Goverr Yuriko Koike, speaking on Japan's Fuji TV, reiterated her unhappiness with proposed move.

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"I didn't agree with (moving events to) Sapporo," she said. " expression 'a bolt from blue' would be appropriate," she ded, when asked for her reaction when she heard about plan. She said Tokyo government was looking at counter-proposals, including starting events earlier, though t as early as 3 am. "re is such a plan, some reports say 3 am, but that would t be case," she said, without specifying furr.

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Tokyo residents want explanation over IOC's anuncement

IOC's anuncement appeared to take Japanese officials across board by surprise, with mayor of Sapporo saying he h t been consulted eir. Tokyo has spent heavily on heat mitigation measures, including coating route of marathon with material that is supposed to reduce impact of city's toriously warm and sticky summer wear. And some tickets have alrey been sold, raising ditional complications.

"re are voices among Tokyo residents who want explanations as to why this situation is occurring, and if a word from on high simply decides everything," Koike said.

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goverr is expected to meet later Friday with John Coates, chairman of IOC's Coordination Commission. He has defended proposed move while ackwledging it "came as a bit of (a) surprise" for Tokyo organizers. decision came after recent world championships in Doha when both men's and women's marathons started at midnight but heat and humidity still presented massive problems. 

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