The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has today (Thursday) confirmed that the Olympic Stadium will host both the start and finish of the marathon event during the Japanese capital’s staging of the Games.
Competitors will line up at the stadium and follow a route that passes through both the modern and traditional districts of Tokyo.
Highlights on the marathon course include the Kaminarimon ‘Thunder Gate’ in Asakusa, as well as the Imperial Palace, Ginza’s upmarket Chuo Street, the Zojoji temple and Nihombashi bridge.
Runners will then head uphill towards the finish line at the Olympic Stadium.
Sebastian Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, praised organisers over the route: “The marathon course is a growing highlight of the athletics programme with imaginative courses that show off the best of cities, are challenging for athletes and fan friendly.”
Naoko Takahashi, Japanese marathon gold medallist at the 2000 Olympic Games, also spoke positively about the course” “It is really exciting to imagine just two years from now the side streets along the Tokyo 2020 marathon.
“I look forward to seeing some great performances from the runners, who will be encouraged by those fans lining the route. They will be memorable races.”
Image: T-mizo
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