Photo/Illutration Runners start from Odori Koen park in Sapporo in the Hokkaido Marathon held on Aug. 26, 2018. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

A formal decision has been made to move the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathons and race walking events from the Japanese capital to Sapporo in Hokkaido, the nation’s northernmost main island.

The change of venue has to be accepted.

Marathon test events for the Tokyo Olympics held in September, by and large, went smoothly.

In other events held in July and August including competitive walking races, however, many athletes suffered health problems because of the fierce summer heat in Tokyo and some had to be rushed to the hospital.

In the track and field world championships this summer in Qatar, many marathoners and race walkers withdrew because of the extreme heat. These experiences have underscored afresh one formidable challenge confronting the Tokyo Summer Games organizers--how to protect the health of athletes and spectators.

The decision to move the marathons and race walks to the northern city has, of course, not solved all the potential problems.

In addition to measures to deal with the health hazard posed by the heat, continued efforts to review and improve carefully both facilities and plans for the mammoth sports events are crucial for ensuring that they will be successful.

What is troubling from this point of view is the discord among the parties involved that has come to the surface in the bitter debate over the marathon venue issue.

The decision was formalized in a meeting on Nov. 1 involving the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo Games organizing committee and the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments.

But Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike did not conceal her displeasure at the change in the venue, saying, "I dare say, this is a decision made without an agreement."

After the meeting, separate news conferences were held by the parties, signaling the disunity among them.

There was also disarray among these bodies three years ago over issues concerning venues and cost sharing of some Olympic events including rowing competitions.

The issues were settled though similar talks among the four parties. But it seems that solid mutual trust has not grown among the four organizations.

Koike is understandably irked. The IOC announced its intention to change the venue in an abrupt and overbearing manner.

It is hard to deny that the Tokyo metropolitan government has been the only one left in the cold with regard to the issue.

But Koike is the chief of the government of the host city, who has the responsibility to lead the efforts to welcome athletes and spectators from all over the world. This is no time for her to keep harboring bad feelings.

The IOC’s views about the future sustainability of the Olympics have also raised some serious questions.

During the four-party talks over the marathon venue issue, John Coates, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission, said it is possible that the marathons could be held in a city other than the host city.

If his remarks indicate that the IOC believes it can deal with the many problems posed by global warming simply by dispersing venues, the Olympic committee should be criticized for kidding itself.

To prevent this kind of confusion, it is vital to review the process leading to the decision and rethink some questionable factors concerning when the Summer Games are held and how the host city is selected.

Another lingering challenge facing the Olympics is how to curb and finance the swelling costs.

A lot of international attention will be focused on the way Sapporo prepares for the Olympic marathons and competitive walking events.

Despite the city’s long history of hosting international sports events, the challenges Sapporo has to tackle will be no easier. They include determining the courses and ensuring security, smooth transportation and a sufficient number of volunteers.

The organizing committee needs to work closely with all other organizations involved to deal with these tough challenges.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 3