Tokyo, Feb 17 (IANS): Tokyo Marathon will not allow general public participation because of the coronavirus outbreak, local media said on Monday.
Tokyo news agency said that the Tokyo Marathon, which is scheduled on March 1 with 38,000 people registered, will only be allowing elite athletes, including wheelchair racers, to take part in the upcoming pre-Olympic event.
The report said that those in the "general participants" category will not be permitted to run, reports Xinhua news agency.
A total of 11 marathons were held across Japan on Sunday. Only 28 Chinese runners out of 386 ran the Kyoto Marathon.
The Tokyo Marathon doubles as a qualifier for the 2020 Games, and runners will be chasing the final spot on the men's Olympic marathon team. Japan men's marathon record holder Suguru Osako and past national record holder Yuta Shitara are among the invitees to the race's elite category.