Long-Distance Race Organizers from Around the Globe Meet in Osaka

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:14 JST, February 25, 2023

Long-distance race organizers from around the world ended a three-day general meeting Saturday in Osaka City.

To mark the congress of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), Shinya Yamanaka — a keen marathon runner in addition to his more famous role as director emeritus of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University — delivered a lecture.

“Research finally pays off after a long process that can take five or 10 years,” said Yamanaka, an ambassador for the 2023 Osaka Marathon (co-sponsored by The Yomiuri Shimbun) to be held Sunday. “It’s just like running a marathon. You learn that hard work never betrays you.”

Attendees also heard a report on the current status of overseas races in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

AIMS works with the World Athletics association to certify world records. This is the second time for an AIMS general meeting to be held in Japan. The first was convened in Tokyo in 1983.