False start for the marathon.
A few hours before the launch of the legendary race for women, the organizers decided to bring the start time forward by one hour.
6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. (Japanese time).
In a press release, the International Olympic Committee explains this choice to: "offer slightly cooler temperatures to the runners".
This last minute change made Evan Dunfee react, a Canadian walker who won the bronze medal on Friday in the 50km walk.
On Twitter, he mentioned the fact that many marathon runners, but also volunteers present on the event, were surely already sleeping when the news fell: “No consultation, just unilateral decision-making, as always. .
Shameful, ”he wrote at the end of his tweet.
Absolute amateur hour from the IOC changing the time of the Women's marathon tomorrow 9 hours before the bus leaves, when many athletes are already asleep.
No consultation, just unilateral decision making, like always.
Disgraceful.
- Evan Dunfee (@EvanDunfee) August 6, 2021
The athlete then continued to express his outrage towards the IOC in further tweets: “Make sense!
(…) The weather has not changed for days.
Why now ?
Does an IOC member have a flight they want to take after?
".
The weather has not changed for days and this increase was announced.
The climate of the archipelago is the bête noire of these Games.
The walking and marathon events have also been relocated to Sapporo, in northern Japan, where temperatures are known to be cooler.
However, according to the latest forecasts, the city's thermometer will display 25 degrees around 6 a.m. and rise to 30 degrees at 9 a.m., all accompanied by a high level of humidity, further annoying athletes. endurance.
Read alsoJO de Tokyo: foggers, ice cubes and sunstroke ... immersed in the moist heat of the Games
For now, the male athletes' marathon is still scheduled for Sunday at 7 a.m. (Saturday at midnight in France).
Temperatures are expected to be milder.