In an interview on July 21, an official with the Oct. 11 Izumo Ekiden confirmed that organizers are examining canceling the race, the first of the Big Three university men's ekidens along with November's National University Ekiden and January's Hakone Ekiden. As the number of new cases of coronavirus infection in the Tokyo metropolitan area continues to climb there are growing concerns about the safety of the 2500 volunteers and race staff who must interact with athletes and fans coming from Tokyo, leading to more calls for the event's cancelation. Izumo mayor Hideto Nagaoka, 69, is expected to hold a press conference on July 27 to make a formal announcement.
Held in Izumo, Shimane, the Izumo Ekiden is the season-opener for Japan's ultra competitive university men's ekiden season. Ten schools from the greater Tokyo area are scheduled to compete. A spokesperson from the Izumo City Sports Department commented, "As far as holding it goes, it's all or nothing. We need to come to a decision as soon as possible." The city government has continued to work in coordination with co-organizers the Inter-University Athletics Union of Japan through online meetings. The next scheduled meeting is July 27, where Mayor Nagaoka is expected to announce the final decision.
Along with local residents, the Izumo Ekiden draws university alumni and alumnae from across the country to cheer on their alma maters' athletes. No matter what measures were taken, high-density crowds of both athletes and supporters would be inevitable, and it would be difficult to completely ensure an environment completely free of infection risk. Although holding the event is a high priority for the local government, their overriding priority is health and safety.
Additionally, in the current situation it would be difficult to assemble the staff of 2500 necessary to put the event on. JAAF coronavirus guidelines specify avoiding the participation of those 65 or older in order to minimize serious health risks. Typically, a large proportion of race volunteers and staff members are senior citizens. "It would be hard for us to ask them to put themselves in danger," commented a city official.
Up to this point preparations to stage the Izumo Ekiden have gone ahead on schedule on the assumption that the race would happen. But in the last few days the situation has changed. Shimane governor Tatsuya Maruyama expressed grave concerns about the increase in infection numbers in Tokyo, and several new infections have also been discovered within Izumo itself. People have become more sensitive to the threat of the unknown. The JAAF guidelines specify that a race cannot be held without the approval of the local government. In that regard, the growing concerns among local government officials makes the Izumo Ekiden unlikely to happen. Since its beginning in 1989, it has only been canceled once before, in 2014 due to the the effects of a race day typhoon.
Both Nationals and Hakone are going forward with preparations at this point, but the coronavirus crisis has already impacted both. The Tokyo-centric Kanto Region canceled its June qualifier for Nationals, instead selecting its quota of seven teams based on the combined 10000 m bests of each team's eight best runners. The Hakone Ekiden's October qualifying race has been modified to be held on a loop course around the runway on a SDF base in Tachikawa, Tokyo, without spectators,
But the final decision over whether the Izumo Ekiden will go ahead will have a major impact on whether Nationals, Hakone, and other races including the National High School Ekiden, will be held. For that reason many in the industry are desperate to avoid its cancelation, and the final days of discussion on the issue will be critical. "There are those of the opinion it should go ahead, and those who feel it should be canceled," said the city official. "Either way, somebody is going to be disappointed."
source article:
https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/202007210000555.html
translated and edited by Brett Larner
Comments