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Nov. 3 Hiroshima International Peace Marathon Canceled Over Coronavirus Worries: "Safety First"

Scheduled to happen Nov. 3 with a field of over 10,000 runners, the Hiroshima International Peace Marathon has been canceled for the third year in a row due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The event's organizing committee announced the news saying, "While there are signs that activities within society are beginning to return, there is still uncertainty about the future course of the pandemic, and in our determination it would be difficult to put on an event with over 10,000 participants in a way that could guarantee the safety of all those involved."

The Hiroshima International Peace Marathon starts and finishes at Balcom BMW Stadium in western Hiroshima, running around the Commerce and Industry Center. Over 10,000 runners from across the country take part across the event's 10 km, 5 km, 1 km and wheelchair 5 km divisions, but since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 it has now been canceled for three straight years.

Translator's note: The Hiroshima Carp baseball team's home stadium, Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, seats 33,000 people. From June 1-5 it hosted a 5-day run of games, playing the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on June 1-2 and the Orix Buffaloes from June 3-5. 37 more games are scheduled at the stadium between now and the end of September. The 35,000-capacity Edion Stadium Hiroshima, home to the Sanfrecce Hiroshima soccer team, most recently held a match against the Nagoya Grampus team on May 28 and is scheduled to host another 8 matches between now and the end of October.

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translated by Brett Larner

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