Tokyo 2020 press release
36 runners for a record number of 000 registered
The start of the Marathon took place in front of the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee office in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
Tokyo, February 24, 2013 – Sport took to the streets of Tokyo in a wild atmosphere yesterday after Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose gave the start of the 2013 Tokyo Marathon in front of 1,7 million fans. Becoming the sixth member of the World Marathon Majors, the 2013 edition of the Tokyo marathon broke a record by receiving 304 registration requests. More than 508 volunteers also participated in the event. Fully integrated into the city's commercial, residential and cultural districts, the marathon demonstrated the safety and passion of Tokyo as well as the city's capacity to host very large-scale sporting events, which are all assets for its bid to host the 10.000 Games.
The Tokyo marathon, IAAF Gold label since 2012, is also the last marathon to join the World Marathon Majors (WMM) and kicked off the 2013 season. Registration requests for the 2013 edition increased by 7% compared to the year
last. The organizers received 10,6 requests per available bib, which proves once again Japan's sporting passion. The great popularity of the marathon also comes from the consistently excellent performances of Japanese marathon runners and wheelchair athletes in recent years.
Tsunekazu Takeda, IOC member and President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Tokyo 2020, said: “The Tokyo Marathon is a great demonstration of the remarkable power of sport, which brings us together and inspires us. The Japanese people
loves sport and we are proud that Tokyo has the status of a major sports hub. Today is yet another example of Tokyo’s joy in welcoming people from all over the world, whether for the marathon or for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The winner of the marathon was Kenyan Dennis Kimetto who set a new race record in 2h06min50sec. Among the women, it was the Ethiopian Aberu Kebede who won in 2h25min34sec. In the wheelchair event, Masazumi Soejima won for the men and Wakako Tsuchida for the women.
Among the many world-class runners taking part in the event were also last year's winner Michael Kipyego and German Irina Mikitenko, winner of the Berlin and London marathons, were among them. Other runners, from Ethiopia, Russia, Ukraine, Qatar and elsewhere, were also in the “elite” category.
The race route passed through the Heritage Zone and Tokyo Bay Zone of the Tokyo 2020 plan. It offered great views of the city's cutting-edge infrastructure, including Tokyo Tower and the Tokyo SkyTree (634 m ), the grand boulevards and the shops
of the Ginza district, the Imperial Palace, and the Kaminarimon gate of the oldest temple in Tokyo in Asakusa which is said to have been built in 628.
After departure, participants headed to the Tokyo Bay Area and were able to enjoy splendid views of the Bay and the Rainbow Bridge. They finally reached the finish line at Tokyo Big Sight, a huge and innovative exhibition hall which will host the wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo, boccia and wheelchair fencing events, as well as as the International Radio and Television Center and the Main Press Center during the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Three thousand runners, who each donated 100.000 yen (approximately US$1.100) or more to charities, also took part in the race as part of the “Tsunagu” program, in support of people affected by the tsunami. and the earthquake of March 2011. Another collection had been organized since November 15, 2012, the day the New York marathon was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. Donations collected for hurricane victims will be donated to the American Red Cross.
IOC Evaluation Commission: Accreditation
The IOC Evaluation Commission visit will travel to Tokyo from March 4-7. Those who wish to obtain their accreditation can visit the following website to register: https://mice.jtbgmt.com/media_tokyo2020 (English)
About the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee
The Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee is the organization responsible for Tokyo's second consecutive bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The city of Tokyo, the radiant capital of Japan and candidate city for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, established this Committee on September 15, 2011. Led by Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), its Executive Council is composed of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and members from different spheres such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government of Japan, the COJ and the Japanese Paralympic Committee (CPJ). COJ Vice President Masato Mizuno is in charge of managing day-to-day affairs at the Committee headquarters as
CEO of Tokyo 2020. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will designate the host city at the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 7, 2013.
