Marathon test held ahead of Tokyo Olympics
Six international athletes participated in the event, the Sapporo Challenge Half Marathon 2021, all of them undergoing stringent testing protocols before and after entering Japan.
All participants including staff and media had to log their body temperatures and answer a daily health questionnaire during the week leading up to the test event.
Organizers urged spectators not to come and watch the race, while staff patrolled areas near the venue, urging people to keep a distance. Still, there were a handful of observers who came to get a glimpse of the race.
