TOKYO, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
- Olympic Gold Medalist Naoko Takahashi, Other Athletes to Take Part as "Ambassadors" -
The fourth "1000 km Relay to Tokyo" will take place over 15 days from July 24 (Sunday) to August 7 (Sunday) as an event organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Sport Benefits Corporation.
(Photo1: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102076/201605100450/_prw_OI1fl_X6EDzIG9.jpg )
(Photo2: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102076/201605100450/_prw_OI2fl_WfPLTwG2.jpg)
The relay runs from Aomori to Tokyo, passing through areas affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The route is 1,280 km long, and divided into 163 legs (tentative): 1-10 km legs for runners and 10-30 km legs for cyclists.
It is not a race, but serves to build bonds between participants from all over the country and the people of Tohoku, and to raise awareness of the progress of recovery.
Many top athletes and celebrities will take part again this year.
So everyone can join -- whether young or old, able-bodied or with disability -- and there will be a special "fureai" leg in each prefecture along the way, where participants can experience various attractions including running with top athletes, taking part in mini-running classes and enjoying special events with local residents.
Three "ambassadors" for this year's "1000 km Relay to Tokyo" will take part in the relay and promotion activities: Naoko Takahashi, women's marathon gold medalist in the 2000 Sydney Olympics; Nobuharu Asahara, 4 x 100m relay bronze medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics; and Shingo Kunieda, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympics wheelchair tennis gold medalist.
Approx. 1,100 participants will be invited from May 11 (Wednesday) to June 12 (Sunday). There will be no fee to participate in the relay. Please apply from the official website (URL: http://www.1000km.jp/top_en/ ).
