Organisers of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo have shifted the start times of the marathons and 35km race walks to 7:30 a.m. due to soaring 33°C temperatures. The change aims to protect athletes’ health from the extreme heat. The women’s marathon will take place on Sunday, while the men’s marathon is scheduled for Monday. The energy-draining race walks will kick off the championships on Saturday morning under the revised schedule.
Officials explained that the road events had originally been set for 8:00 a.m. to balance climate conditions, operational logistics, and spectator attendance. However, unseasonably high temperatures forced them to act earlier than planned. World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe acknowledged that the high heat levels would be a major challenge for competitors. The decision was announced quickly to give athletes enough time to adjust their preparations.
This is not the first time heat concerns have impacted athletics events in Japan. At the delayed 2021 Tokyo Olympics, marathons and race walks were moved to the cooler northern city of Sapporo to protect competitors. However, this year’s races remain in Tokyo, where mid-September temperatures are still as high as mid-summer levels. Organisers warned that global warming is making such conditions increasingly common.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that this summer’s average temperature was 2.36°C above normal, marking the hottest summer since records began in 1898. It also noted this was the third consecutive year of record-breaking temperatures. The heatwave has raised broader concerns about the long-term impact of climate change on major international sporting events.
Sebastian Coe, after a World Athletics Council meeting on Tuesday, stressed that climate risks are here to stay. He criticised governments for failing to act decisively on global warming and warned that sports bodies may need to make unilateral decisions to ensure athlete safety. In-stadium competition times for the championships’ first three days remain unchanged despite the heat concerns.