Tokyo Marathon 2020 to be held only for the Elite and Wheelchair Elite

In a press release sent out this morning the Tokyo Marathon Foundation announced that they would be cancelled and deferring mass start entries for their March 1st event.

The press release stated “We have been preparing for the Tokyo Marathon 2020 while implementing preventive safety measures, however, now that case of COVID-19 [corona virus] has been confirmed within Tokyo, we cannot continue to launch the event within the scale we originally anticipated”

“We regret to inform you the following; the Tokyo Marathon 2020 will be held only for marathon elites, and wheelchair elites.”

The potential impact on the upcoming Olympics Games could be huge. Questions will be being asked of the organising committee as to whether they will allow the Games to continue or if they will also being cancelled as has happened to the recent World Indoor Games in China.

Somewhat ironically on of the main reasons the elite races are taking place as they are the trial events for the Olympic Marathons later this year.

No refunds, but option to sign up for 2021

For the semi-elite, general, charity, and 10km entries the Foundation advised their available options as deferring their entry until 2021, but they will still have to pay for a 2021 entry as “abiding to the Entry Regulation, the entry fee and the donations received for the Tokyo Marathon 2020 will not be refunded.”

One would expect the vast majority of costs incurred will already have been spent and the race will still need a lot of the road closures and infrastructure for the elite only race.

Don’t worry though as “runners who have purchased the Tokyo Marathon 2020 Signature T-shirt, the item will be shipped following the event.” Maybe we’ll see a few of them at ReRun clothing in the next few months.

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