The IOC approved a plan for the marathon and a number of other outside sports events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be "held early in the morning to avoid scorching heat," according to KYODO. Heat has been "a major concern" for the Games, scheduled from July 24-Aug. 9, when temperatures "frequently rise" above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), with high humidity during the day, "posing a risk of dehydration and heatstroke." The women's marathon on Aug. 2 and men's marathon on Aug. 9 will both start at 7am, 30 minutes earlier than Tokyo's initial plan (KYODO, 7/19).
MORE SPORTS: REUTERS' Hardik Vyas reported the IOC said that seven new events "have been added" to the 2022 Beijing Games, which "paves the way for the highest representation of female athletes at the event." The IOC’s exec board "approved women’s monobob, freestyle ski big air (men and women), short track mixed relay, a ski jumping mixed team event, mixed gender team aerials and a snowboard cross mixed team event." With this decision, the Beijing Games will include an "increase in female representation" from 41% during the PyeongChang Games to 45.44%. A total of 46 women’s events "will see 1,314 women athletes competing" (REUTERS, 7/18).
