In Sapporo, the men's 20-kilometer racewalking for the Tokyo Olympics was held in the midst of calls for refraining from watching games along the road.



The race started at Odori Park in Chuo-ku, Sapporo at 4:30 pm, but the maximum temperature in Sapporo on the 5th exceeded 33 degrees Celsius, and the race was held in severe heat.



As the infection of the new coronavirus continues to spread, measures have been taken to prevent crowding of people at the course "Ekimae-dori".

We interviewed what kind of measures were taken in each of the



"heat" and "dense"


sites.

Just before the start, a large amount of ice and coolant over 31 degrees is also available

Sapporo City, where the venue was relocated from Tokyo as a measure against the heat wave.



However, this year, hot days continue in Sapporo, and midsummer days exceeding 30 degrees have continued for 16 consecutive days.


Just before the start of the men's 20km racewalk, the temperature in Chuo-ku, Sapporo was 31.1 degrees Celsius even at 4:00 pm.



The Japan Association of Athletics Federations has been promoting "heat countermeasures" in races under these circumstances immediately after it was decided to invite the tournament on the premise that it will be held in Tokyo.



Three years ago, the Asian Games in Jakarta and the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, which were held in the same heat and humidity as Tokyo, were positioned as a place for simulation to Tokyo, and effective measures were taken. I have been considering it.



Then, on the 5th, the staff of the Japanese team showed a hectic movement in the water supply area.



In order to prevent the athlete's body temperature from rising, a large amount of prepared ice was divided into small pieces and handed in small bags so that the athlete could hold them in their hands, and the ice was handed in a spare hat.



In addition, a coolant to wrap around the neck was also prepared, and the staff not only handed out drinks, but also tried to support the measures against the heat while watching the players.

Measures are taken along the road, but in many places it becomes "honey"

Around Odori Park in Sapporo, where the men's 20-kilometer racewalk was held on land, measures were taken to avoid crowding along the road, but in many places the distance between people becomes quite close. It is now in a "dense" state.



In order to avoid crowding around Odori Park in Sapporo City, which is the venue for the men's 20km racewalking on land, the area around the park where the start and finish points are located is off limits.



In addition, for the "Ekimae-dori" that extends south from Sapporo Station, which is the course, toward Odori Park, we took measures to narrow the width of the sidewalk so that we could not stop and cheer, and we assigned about 2000 staff. We called for cooperation to refrain from watching the game.

However, many people gathered around the venue to see the players at a glance more than 30 minutes before the start of the competition.



The management staff called on these people to refrain from watching the game with loudspeakers, but the people who gathered cheered on the Japanese players and took videos and photos with their smartphones.



A woman in her 80s who lives in Sapporo said, "I've wanted to support the athletes because they aren't guilty. However, the roadsides are dense, so I'll support them far away."



After the competition, Yasuo Mori, Deputy Director of the Games Organizing Committee, said, "There were a lot of spectators. I want to do it. "



In the center of Sapporo city, a racewalk of 50km for boys and 20km for girls will be held on the 6th, and people will continue to call for refraining from watching games along the road.