Tokyo 2020: Marathon route confirmed

"The uphill stretch at the end will be very challenging, especially for wheelchair athletes – it may be the most exciting stage ever – and I think the athletes will therefore feel real elation as they enter the Stadium at the finish.”

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has confirmed the route of the Paralympic marathon events, following its approval by World Para Athletics.

For the first time in recent Paralympic history, the course will not only follow the same route as the Olympic marathon but will start and finish at the same location too – Tokyo’s new National Stadium (Olympic Stadium).

Traversing the heart of the Japanese capital, the route will take in famous Tokyo landmarks including the Kaminarimon ("Thunder Gate") in Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Ginza’s upmarket Chuo Street, the Zojoii temple with the city’s iconic Tokyo Tower as a backdrop, and Nihombashi bridge, the historic centre of the Japanese capital.

The climax of the race will see Para athletes running the final stretch leading to the

new Stadium uphill.

There will be five different marathon races;

• men and women’s T12, for athletes with vision impairments

• men’s T46, for runners with upper limb deficiency

• men and women’s T54, for those in wheelchairs other than cerebral palsy

All athletes will run the same course.

Haozhe Gao, Head of World Para Athletics, said, “The Marathon is one of the highlights of the Para athletics programme. It is an amazing opportunity to engage with the fans as there actually are five different races to follow.

“At the same time, it is also special for the athletes as they will go across some of the most iconic parts of Tokyo before they return to the Stadium. I would like to thank the organisers for the work they have done, and I am already looking forward to the races on 6 September next year.”

Rio 2016 Paralympic marathon T12 silver medallist Misato Michishita said:

“The route of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic marathon comprises relatively clean asphalt road surfaces with several repeat stretches that will make it easy for blind runners to navigate. I am glad the course is well served by transportation networks, making it an environment that will be easy to reach and provide support to.

“It’s also exciting to imagine blind runners competing on the same public roads as the Olympic marathon runners. On what will be the last day of the Paralympic Games, I sincerely hope that we can share the excitement with many spectators.”

Akemi Masuda, President of Japan Para Athletics, added, “I am very happy that the announcement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic marathon course falls so close to the “500 days to Go” milestone. It is an attractive course that will give athletes and spectators a real feel for the city of Tokyo.

“But the uphill stretch at the end will be very challenging, especially for wheelchair athletes – it may be the most exciting stage ever – and I think the athletes will therefore feel real elation as they enter the Stadium at the finish.”