message

Having begun in 1981, the International Year of the Disabled, as the world’s first marathon event only for wheelchair users, the Oita International Wheelchair Marathon has a history of over 40 years. During this time, as a total of 12,176 athletes have challenged their personal limits in heated competitions, the race has developed into the world’s greatest race, officially sanctioned by World Para Athletics.
In last year’s event, the first to take place after the transition of Covid-19 to category 5, a total of 190 participants, 45 from 15 countries abroad and 145 from 29 prefectures in Japan, put on a heated battle amidst the fervent cheers of many spectators along the course. With the entrance ceremony and town parade being revived, the event was one at which the athletes and the people got together to bring back Oita’s unique hospitality and vitality.
At that event, in the women’s T34/53/54, the current world record holder Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland prevailed by a narrow margin in a fierce battle of three for the top spot in her first appearance and first win in Oita, with the brilliant achievement of breaking the event record for the first time in four years.
For the 43rd race this year, the finish will be moved back to J-Lease Stadium where the field has been renovated, with the aim of sending out a powerful message both domestically and internationally that all athletes, as well as prefectural residents and volunteers will experience the "excitement beyond the finish line (=each start and goal)" beyond nationality, gender, and disability. We aim to create a flagship race that will send out a powerful message to people in Japan and abroad.
This autumn in Oita, the birthplace of parasports in Japan, we are all looking forward to meeting you!