Skip to main content

Tokyo World Championships to Leave Final Decision on Going Ahead in Heat to World Athletics



On August 25 the organizing committee of the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships determined that the final decision whether to go ahead with the competition in the event of heat, typhoon or other extreme circumstances will be in the hands of World Athletics.

Given that multiple venues will be in use simultaneously throughout the World Championships, a Venue General Manager will be in place to oversee competition venues, warm-up venues, athlete hotels, and on-site decision-making. A liaison, ceremony and control team led by the organizing committee head will operate within the National Stadium to handle important issues and communicate with World Athletics and other relevant parties.

In the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or typhoon, or in case of a serious accident or other incident, the event crisis management led by the organizing committee chairperson will make the necessary decisions and lead the on-site crisis response. The crisis management plan is still in finalization but outlines the the basic approach and protocols for responding to crises during the Championships, as well as emergency response plans laying out specific procedures to follow immediately following any incident. All planning is in line with the organizing committee's fundamental policy of "the safe operation and completion of the Championships."

Regarding the nonzero possibility of a typhoon hitting Tokyo during the Championships, Secretary General Takashi Takeichi commented, "Forecasts are made with a high degree of accuracy. If a direct hit on Tokyo is imminent, measures such as planned suspensions of public transportation will be implemented. In such circumstances we will examine the situation and respond accordingly."

With regard to contingency planning for the hot conditions that have become the norm, World Athletics has stated that it will examine whether to go ahead with competition if the heat index reaches 30˚C or higher. Rather than quickly make a decision on whether to cancel or postpone a competition in advance, plans call for the consideration of the situation on the ground at the time and for an appropriate response to be made.

Information on how to beat the heat is also being prepared for spectators, with countermeasures including cooling spots being put in place around and inside the competition venues. Athletes will be provided with measures such as drinks and ice baths in order to help them focus on their competition. Other measures are also being implemented for officials and volunteers.

Translator's note: Heat index and temperature are different, but along with high humidity daily high temperatures in Tokyo have been over 30˚C every day but two in the last month and a half, with low temperatures typically in the 25˚C range.

source article:
translated by Brett Larner

photo © 2025 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

Buy Me A Coffee

Comments

Most-Read This Week

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...

Shikama and Njeri Win Sendai International Half Marathon

Shunsuke Shikama (Logisteed) and Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) won the Sendai International Half Marathon Sunday in Sendai, Shikama in 1:01:31 and Njeri in 1:09:20. Mizuki Nishimura (Tenmaya) was the top Japanese woman at 2nd overall. The men's race went through 5 km in 14:34 and 10 km in 29:22. Shikama ran alongside top competition including Shoki Yamaguchi (Soka Univ.), who has been running well in half marathons this season, and Tokyo World Championships marathon team member Naoki Koyama (Honda). On a course with many small ups and downs, Shikama attacked on a downhill just after 15 km, quickly breaking free of the lead group of 7. 13 seconds up by 20 km, Shikama covered the last 1.0975 km in 3:06 to seal his first Sendai title. A graduate of Juntendo University , Shikama is in his 4th season with Logisteed. At the 2024 National Corporate Half Marathon he ran 1:00:41, and at last year's East Japan Corporate Ekiden he won the Third Stage. In his marathon d...