Olympics news - Coronavirus outbreak prompts Japan to limit public crowds ahead of Olympics

The Tokyo Marathon will not feature members of the public and the Emperor's birthday celebrations have been cancelled in Japan due to a rise in confirmed cases of coronavirus, just months before the nation is set to host the Olympic Games.

The widening fallout of the virus outbreak, which began in China in December and has already killed over 1,700 people, is damaging output and tourism in Japan, which is preparing to host the Games from late July.

A further spread of the virus in Japan, which last week reported its first fatality from the disease, could undermine growth and potentially push the country into recession, analysts say.

Organisers of the Tokyo Marathon, one of the world's biggest such races, said the 38,000 general participants who signed up for the March 1 race will not be allowed to compete.

Marathon

Hassan's race moments as Dutch debutant wins London Marathon

00:06:15

|

23/04/2023 at 14:38

"We cannot continue to launch the event within the scale we originally anticipated," the organisers said in a statement.

Instead, the event will be limited to top-level competitors. A total of 176 elite runners and 30 elite wheelchair athletes are registered for the race.

The marathon is not the only international sporting event in Japan the virus has affected: The FIBA Asia Cup 2021 postponed a qualifying basketball game between Japan and China, originally scheduled to be held near Tokyo this week.

Citing "circumstances", the Imperial Household Agency said it would cancel Emperor Naruhito's public birthday address on Feb. 23, his first since his coronation last year. The event regularly attracts tens of thousands of people to the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace in the heart of Tokyo.

Arteta: Arsenal 'have plan' to combat coronavirus

The last time the emperor's birthday celebration was cancelled was 1996, amid a hostage crisis at the Japanese embassy in Peru.

An additional 99 people on a cruise ship docked in the Japanese port of Yokohama were confirmed on Monday to be infected with the virus, a day after 70 were confirmed to have the virus, bringing the total number of infections aboard the Diamond Princess to 454.

Marathon

'This is the new star!' - Kipruto becomes tenth Kenyan man to win London Marathon

00:00:57

|

02/10/2022 at 14:09

Marathon

'A fantastic performance!' - Yehualaw wins in London for first major marathon victory

00:01:18

|

02/10/2022 at 14:17

London Marathon

'Really disappointing' - Farah out of London Marathon with hip injury

28/09/2022 at 16:36