TOKYO, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Wednesday demanded an explanation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the sudden change of location for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon from the capital city to the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido's Sapporo City.
She said the proposal to move the marathon by the IOC, which stands to be a huge draw for the public and the only event a lot of people here who haven't managed to secure tickets to the Games' events next summer will be able to watch in person, was made with no consultation with the host city.
Her remarks came as a three-day meeting between officials from the IOC, Tokyo Metropolitan and central governments and the 2020 Games' organizing committee kicked off in Tokyo on Wednesday.
In a meeting with John Coates, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission, who is in Tokyo to explain the organization's independent decision to move what should have been one of Tokyo's most popular events during the Games next year from the capital to Sapporo, owing to concerns about the summer heat, Koike insisted the IOC explain itself.
"We have less than nine months to go to the games and are now entering the final stages of preparation," Koike said.
"We consider it an unprecedented turn of events for the IOC to make such an abrupt proposal with no consultation or discussion whatsoever with the host city Tokyo beforehand," added the Tokyo governor.
"Speaking as the leader of the host city and the representative of the people of Tokyo we wish for the marathons and race walks to be held in Tokyo," Koike said, reiterating her stance previously made on the weighty topic.
Coates, for his part, said that he would make the effort to fully explain the decision and provide further explanations as to the unilateral move by the IOC, while seeking to gain the understanding of thousands of Tokyoites who had been eagerly awaiting attending the marquee event in their city.
"If there's any further explanation that's required then I stand here ready to devote time to that over the next few days, because we do not want to leave here without the understanding from the people of Tokyo as to why the IOC Executive Board took the action it did," said Coates.
