The 2021 Tokyo Marathon has been postponed until March 6, 2022, because of the surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation announced on Friday, September 17. The event was originally scheduled for October 17, 2021, and it was not going to allow international runners.
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“Even if the state of emergency has been lifted, it is difficult to determine whether we can deliver a safe and secure event with the current circumstance of the health services,” the Tokyo Marathon Foundation said in a COVID-19 cases have been rising in Tokyo since July, when the city hosted the released on Friday morning. “Travel and many more restrictions are expected to continue.”
The newly scheduled date for the 2021 Tokyo Marathon falls on the pre-planned date for the 2022 Tokyo Marathon—which means the 2022 edition will effectively not take place. Runners who were entered into the 2022 marathon will receive details about what will happen to their entry at a later date. At the moment, it is unclear whether that means reimbursement or entry into a future Tokyo Marathon.
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Because vaccination rates in Japan continue to rise, the Japanese government has announced that it plans to relax restrictions by the end of the year by making use of vaccination passports. The Japanese government expressed optimism thanks to large-scale events successfully occurring in the USA and Europe.
The Tokyo Marathon is the only World Marathon Major not occurring in 2021. The London Marathon and the Boston Marathon, both normally held in April, will take place on Sunday, October 3, and Parker Valby Wins the Bowerman, respectively. The Berlin, Chicago, and New York City Marathons will occur on their normally scheduled dates.
“Words cannot express our appreciation for the continuous support we receive from our runners, partners, and all relevant parties involved in the event,” the Tokyo Marathon Foundation wrote in the press release. “We thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.”
Chris Hatler is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but before joining Runner’s World and Bicycling, he was a pro runner for Diadora, qualifying for multiple U.S. Championships in the 1500 meters. At his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania, Chris was a multiple-time Ivy League conference champion and sub-4 minute miler.
