World Athletics Reveal Amended Tokyo 2020 Olympics Qualifying Process

World Athletics have revealed an amended qualifying process for the Tokyo Olympics after the event was postponed to 2021.

The qualification period was previously postponed on April 6 and the new schedule will see it resumed on December 1st. 

Athletes who met the qualifying entry standard prior to the postponement remain qualified and the qualifying standards remain the same.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Extended Qualification Period

The changes announced by World Athletics mean that a new qualifying period will be established between December 1st 2020 and June 29th 2021, with the 50K race walk and marathon events having an earlier end date of May 31st.

Whilst the dates have changed, the qualifying criteria remains the same with athletes qualifying either through achieving the entry standard for their event within the qualification period or by virtue of their world ranking.

The amended process was developed due to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics as a result of  the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Four Year Strategic Plan

World Athletics also announced a new four-year strategic plan as it seeks to drive further growth in the sport.

The number of people exercising during lockdown has substantially increased and the world governing body are keen to capitalise on this to create further participation in the sport.

Centred on a vision ‘to use the power and accessibility of athletics and our athletes to create a healthier and fitter world’, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasised the need to inspire people to keep exercising after lockdown has finished.

He said, “The latest research from runrepeat.com shows that exercise has increased 88% during lockdown and running and walking has topped the tables.

“We need to inspire these people to continue the habits they have learned and we will with our own campaigns but also by embracing campaigns that many others in our sport are driving.”

The new plan is set to be implemented from the end of June 2020.

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