FOCUS: Sapporo hopes Tokyo Olympics will boost 2030 bid

The northern Japan city of Sapporo was chosen as a haven from Tokyo's punishing heat and humidity for the Olympic marathon and race walking events, giving it an opportunity to promote its bid to host the 2030 Winter Games.But the city, currently under a quasi-state of emergency amid a fresh rise in COVID-19 cases, has its work cut out enforcing anti-virus steps among a public eager to take to the roadside to get a taste of the action.The International Olympic Committee announced plans in October 2019 to move the marathon and race walking to Sapporo, a decision that followed a disastrous wor…READ FULL ARTICLE