Preparations to start for the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2022 to be held in Japan on March 13, 2022
The organizers will seek for optimal organization of a safe road race by referring to the precautions issued by the government, Japan Sports Agency, and the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, consulting with the local governments and related bodies, and refining the infection control measures developed over the past two years.
The Nagoya Women’s Marathon is pleased to announce its plan to hold the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2022 with 22,000 participants, on the same scale as before the Covid-19 pandemic started, in Nagoya city, Japan on Sunday, March 13, 2022.
Launched in 2012, the Nagoya Women’s Marathon is the world’s largest women’s marathon certified by Guinness World Records and the only women’s race granted a World Athletics Platinum Label.
The event hosted 21,436 runners in 2019, but due to the Covid-19 outbreak, it only staged the elite race with 110 athletes in 2020. The 2021 race on March 14, 2021, was held as the first mass participation road race held in Japan after the Covid-19 pandemic started and welcomed 4,704 domestic runners (In the virtual marathon held in parallel with the in-person race, 4,800 runners participated from around the world). The post-event investigation found no cases of infection among event participants within two weeks after race day. The 2021 race was recognized for setting an example of ‘new-normal’ distance race with all suitable measures against infection delivered and advice of medical professionals and local government officials followed.
The Nagoya Women’s Marathon has been paving the way for the organization of safe road racing during the pandemic by holding races with gradually increased numbers of participants of only elite athletes in 2020 and nearly 5,000 runners in 2021. Using the knowledge and expertise in infection prevention and control practice accumulated in the past two years, the organizers are determined to make thorough preparations and develop further anti-infection measures for the 2022 race to safely host 22,000 women runners.
To keep the event safe and secure for runners, volunteers, and all concerned, the organizers will establish an infection control office within the organizing committee with medical professionals and local government officials and form a precise infection control plan. All participants will be required to cooperate with the infection measures, such as wearing a mask at all event sites (except for runners while running in the race), temperature check on every site arrival, Covid-19 testing at number pickup, and submission of health condition sheet for 7 days before and 14 days after race day. If the event is forced to be downsized or canceled due to the state of emergency or event restrictions issued by the Japanese or local governments, participation in a virtual marathon will be offered as a substitution. The virtual participation option will be also offered to international runners if they cannot come to the event due to travel restrictions.
The organizers will continue monitoring the infection status closely and make the utmost effort to stage the world’s largest women’s marathon in the best and safest way possible.
Koji Kitano, Race Director of the Nagoya Women’s Marathon comments: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have not been able to welcome 22,000 women runners and support their marathon challenge for the past two years. As a runner myself, I understand how running fans around the world are waiting for mass races to return. We will use our experience from the past two races held during the pandemic to act in best practice to ensure the health and safety of 22,000 runners. The race entry will start in November and we are looking forward to receiving applications from many runners.”
For the Race Outline of the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2022, please visit: https://womens-marathon.nagoya/en/outline/general/
For more information about the Nagoya Women’s Marathon, please visit: https://womens-marathon.nagoya/en/
About Nagoya Women’s Marathon
The Nagoya Women’s Marathon is the largest women’s marathon in the world certified by Guinness World Records. It was launched on March 11, 2012, with 13,114 participants, reformed from the Nagoya International Women’s Marathon, the elite-only women’s race known as the qualifying trial that sent off many Japanese star athletes to the international competitions, including two Olympic gold medalists Naoko Takahashi and Mizuki Noguchi. It holds the World Athletics Platinum label status and has now grown to an event of 22,000 participants. For playing a significant role in the increase of women runner population in Japan, the race was awarded the International Olympic Committee Women and Sport Achievement Diploma in 2019, after receiving the Japan Olympic Committee Women and Sport Award in 2017.
For further information, please contact:
Nagoya Women’s Marathon Administrative Office
1-6-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku,
Nagoya 460-8511 Japan
Email: nagoyawomensmarathon@gmail.com
Website: https://womens-marathon.nagoya/en
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