Olympic test run in Sapporo: "Please don't watch the race"

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Olympic test in Sapporo

Photo: imago images / Kyodo News

As a test run for the Olympic Games (July 23 to August 8), a half marathon was held on Wednesday in Sapporo under strict security measures.

"Please don't watch the race," it said on signs around the streets stewards of the streets.

The reason for this was the increased number of corona infections in Japan.

Only a few spectators followed the run with 69 participants, Hillary Kipkoech from Kenya won the men (1: 00.46 hours), local hero Mao Ichiyama won the women (1: 08.28).

The Olympic marathon had been moved to Sapporo because of the expected heat in Tokyo in the summer.

Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Federation, can understand that many people in Japan do not approve of the hosting of the Summer Games because of the pandemic.

"We take the nervousness very, very seriously," said the Briton in Sapporo.

"We have Covid protocols that have been tested, I was there this morning," said Coe: "We pay close attention to the health in the communities."

The rejection of the games among the Japanese population has been enormous for months.

According to surveys, over 80 percent of Japanese are now against holding the games as planned.

The organizers already decided at the end of March that no foreign spectators would be admitted to the games.

The number of officials and other parties involved is also to be greatly reduced.

It has not yet been decided whether locals will be allowed to watch the competitions.

It is currently difficult to predict what risk will remain despite all the concepts.

However, experts warn that the games could turn into a super-spreading event.

Around 11,000 athletes and even more supervisors and journalists from all over the world come together at the Olympic Games.

ara / sid