Tokyo 2020 plays down 'test event' concerns
The test event is a half-marathon and a 10K race, which will be held on Wednesday (May 5) and kick off from Sapporo's Odori park.
Yasuo Mori, Tokyo 2020's deputy executive director of the Games operations bureau, addressed concerns about the event amid a record rise in coronavirus infections there.
"We are fully aware (Sapporo) residents feel uneasy with the current situation, and we are carrying out various steps as we want to prepare for an event where people can feel even a little bit more at ease," Mori told a news conference.
Mori also spoke about the "stringent measures" put in place for testing the six foreign athletes who have entered the country for the event, with daily screenings required and no public transportation are banned.
The test event was scaled down greatly due to the coronavirus situation with just 93 runners planning to take part in the half marathon. General entry for 2,500 runners was cancelled.
