Ozaki and Akaba Likely to Withdraw From London Marathon

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2010/04/20/17.html

translated by Brett Larner

With airspace closures due to the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland creating travel headaches across Europe, the planned appearances of Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei), Yukiko Akaba (Team Hokuren) and other Japanese elites at Sunday's London Marathon is looking less and less likely, with a worst-case scenario of withdrawal becoming probable. Ozaki's coach Sachiko Yamashita told reporters, "We have a way for her to get to Europe via the United States, but we don't want to do this complicated land travel that everyone is talking about." Akaba's coach Shuhei Akaba commented, "We were supposed to leave on the 21st, but that's impossible now. We can get to Europe through the U.S. but all the trains and buses to England are full. We're just waiting for something to open up."

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