2012 Olympic Games, London.

By Anita Geddes, for Runner’s Tribe

World Athletics on Friday released a revised 10-day track and field programme for the  2021 Tokyo Olympics, assuming it isn’t canceled or delayed again, due to Covid-19.

The opening round of men’s 3,000m steeplechase will kickstart the athletics programme on July 30, 2021, with competitions set to be spread over 16 sessions at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium.

The schedule prominently features two ‘Super Saturdays’ – July 31 and Aug. 7 – which will see athletes competing for 10 titles.

‘Golden Sunday’ on Aug. 1, will have 25 medal events across all sports, highlighted by the men’s 100m final.

The programme will conclude with the men’s marathon on Aug. 8 in Sapporo, 800 kilometres north of Tokyo.

Eliud Kipchoge KEN wins the Elite Menís Race. The Virgin Money London Marathon, 22 April 2018.
Photo: Jed Leicester for Virgin Money London Marathon
For further information: media@londonmarathonevents.co.uk

The marathon and race walk events were moved to Sapporo by the International Olympic Committee in October to mitigate the worst of Tokyo’s summer heat.

World Athletics confirmed the women’s and men’s marathon medal presentations will be part of the Games’ closing ceremony for the first time in Olympic history.

The Games are set to be the biggest ever in terms of events, with a record 339 medals available, before finishing on Aug. 8.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 05: Catriona Bisset of Victoria competes in the Womens 800m heats during the Australian Track and Field Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on April 05, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The Tokyo 2020 qualification system already in force was adapted to fit the new dates of the Games.

The qualification principles remain unchanged with athletes able to qualify through entry standards and then the World Athletics World Rankings.

Athletes who have already met the entry standard since the start of the qualification period in 2019 remain qualified and will be eligible for selection by their respective Member Federations and National Olympic Committees, together with the other athletes who will qualify within the extended qualification period.

Due to the uneven training and competition opportunities around the world during the coronavirus pandemic, World Athletics announced on 7 April that the qualification period (for all events) was suspended from 6 April to 30 November 2020.

Download the timetable.

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