'Mommy Rocket' ready for liftoff

Heat is on

Because of the expected extreme heat, the marathon and race walks have been moved from Tokyo to Sapporo. The races will be held at Sapporo Odori Park in Hokkaido, beginning Aug 5 (men's 20-kilometer) and culminating on Aug 8 with the men's marathon.

The temperature on Aug 8, 2020, in Tokyo was around 32 Celsius, and crept up to over 35 three days later. In Sapporo on the same day, the high was 23.

Russian contingent

Three-time high jump world champion Mariya Lasitskene will be a favorite after Russia named her to its 10-person athletics team. The team is limited because of sanctions stemming from Russia's state-sponsored doping scandal.

Russia will compete under the acronym "ROC"－for Russian Olympic Committee－in Tokyo. The Court of Arbitration for Sport eased some sanctions against the country after findings that Russia had manipulated data from its anti-doping laboratory that would have helped pursue some cases.

But World Athletics has been more stringent than most international sports federations in its sanctions against Russia, which is why only 10 athletes are allowed in track and field.

Agencies Via Xinhua