Runners race through the commercial district with less spectators at the Tokyo Marathon in Tokyo, Sunday, March 1, 2020. The marathon is a city race and has no connection to the Olympic race that will take place this summer in the northern city of Sapporo.
Sunday’s race was won by Ethiopian Birhanu Legese for the second year in a row, finishing in two hours, four minutes and 15 seconds, according to Reuters. Lonah Korlima Chemtai Salpeter, who runs for Israel, won the women’s race in a record time of 2:17.45.
Top contenders race the Tokyo Marathon in Tokyo, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Organizers of the Tokyo Marathon reduced the number of participants out of fear of the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)As the elite runners took to the streets, spectators were asked to stay home and watch on Japanese television or online.
Elite runners start the Tokyo Marathon in Tokyo, Sunday, March 1, 2020. The race was scaled back as part of Japan’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus. (Kyodo News via AP)Runners who passed through central Tokyo mostly saw the same thing: empty stretches of sidewalk.
Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, right in second row, races with other runners on his way to winning the Tokyo Marathon in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)According to the Wall Street Journal’s Alastair Gale, race staff for the marathon held up signs at train station exits along the course that read: “Please refrain from coming to watch.”
Spectators who did show up were seen wearing masks as runners passed.
CORONAVIRUS KILLS BRITISH DIAMOND PRINCESS CRUISE PASSENGER, REPORTS SAY
The marathon wasn’t the only major event to be held in the country this weekend with few or no people watching.
The Chiba Lotte Marines hosted the Rakuten Eagles with no spectators in the stands at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba Prefecture on Saturday, one of six preseason baseball games played at empty stadiums.
Japan’s professional baseball league said Thursday it will play its 72 remaining preseason games in empty stadiums because of the threat of the spreading coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)Tokyo Olympics organizers and the IOC have repeatedly said the Games will go ahead as scheduled and that they are following the advice of the World Health Organization. The Olympics are expecdtded to draw 11,000 athletes from around the globe, followed by the Paralympics beginning Aug. 25 with 4,000 athletes.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday announced a 270 billion yen ($2.5 billion) emergency economic package to help fight the coronavirus.
Original Article : HERE ;
from AllAbout https://allabout.pw/tokyo-marathon-features-empty-streets-signs-that-ask-refrain-from-watching-amid-coronavirus-fears/
No comments:
Post a Comment