Yahoo Finance International runners won’t be able to compete in the Tokyo Marathon this year
Disappointing news for UK runners with a deferred spot in the 2020 Tokyo Marathon - international runners are not being accepted to this year's race.
Organisers of the 2021 Tokyo Marathon have announced that this year’s race will not accept international runners. The Tokyo Marathon Foundation said the ‘difficult’ decision was made due to ongoing border restrictions in Japan, with many uncertain when they will end.
After the event was held for elites and wheelchair elites only in 2020, mass participation runners were given the option to move their entries to 2021 and 2022. According to race director Tad Hayano, those who chose 2021 will now have their entries diverted to the race in 2023.
Other Japanese marathons have introduced similar restrictions or been cancelled altogether this year, including the 2021 Osaka International Women's Marathon, 2021 Lake Biwa Marathon, and 2021 Kobe Marathon.
In an official statement shared on Twitter, Hayano said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to share an important message for all overseas runners.
#TokyoMarathon2021>
Due to continued strict border restrictions in place for travelers entering Japan and the uncertainty of when they will be lifted, the decision that overseas runners will not participate in the Tokyo Marathon 2021 was made. pic.twitter.com/k0f8pVaYBz— Tokyo Marathon Foundation (@TokyoMarathon_E) June 17, 2021
‘The Tokyo Marathon organising committee, along with the Covid-19 Investigative Committee, [and] other local partners and experts have been closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation in preparation for this event.
‘With the strict border control of Japan that is currently in place, we have made the difficult decision to announce that our overseas runners will not be able to participate in the Tokyo Marathon 2021.
‘For all runners who have been preparing and looking forward to the race day, we understand your disappointment and express our sincere apologies for the situation we are in, and the necessary decision we have had to make.’
Further details on the announcement would be made ‘in the coming weeks and months,’ Hayano said.
He added: ‘We look forward to the day when we can unite safely together again at the Tokyo Marathon. Thank you very much for your understanding and continuous support.’
Responding on social media, runners were understandably disappointed. Adam Kearney tweeted: 'Damn! But not a surprise... Glad I hadn't booked my flights this time'.
Although the Japanese government is beginning to ease Tokyo’s state of emergency restrictions, cases have not fallen as quickly as had been hoped, with 453 new cases reported today. With the Olympics just around the corner, the government is concerned about the impact of new coronavirus strains like the Delta variant currently growing in the UK.
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