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Hyogo Prefectural Government to Step Back from Organizational Role in Kobe Marathon


A draft revision of the Hyogo Prefectural Government's 2022-23 administrative and financial plan released on Dec. 16 includes elimination of the prefecture's position as a co-organizer of the Kobe Marathon. Following Kobe's 10th running, scheduled for November, 2022, the prefectural government will step back from an organizational role and will instead support part of the race's expenses as an event sponsor. 

The Kobe Marathon began in November, 2011 as a celebration of the city's recovery from the major earthquake that struck it in 1995. A highly popular event, it attracts 80,000 applications for the 20,000 entries available. Operational costs are roughly 700 million yen (~$6.2 million USD) each edition. The prefectural and city governments contributed around 90 million yen apiece (~$800,000 USD), with the remainder covered by corporate sponsors and entry fees. The prefecture and city have also both had representatives on the race's organizing committee.

In explaining its shift in position, the prefectural government said, "The organizational knowhow for staging the largest urban marathon within the prefecture is now in place, and this has contributed to the ability of other events such as the Himeji Castle Marathon to be staged." To show its recognition of the Kobe Marathon's importance, the prefecture opted to continue to support it as a financial sponsor.

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translated by Brett Larner

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