Due to the impact of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, on February 17, the Tokyo Marathon organizing committee issued another statement, announcing that because it could not guarantee the safety of the competition, it decided to cancel this year’s competition for mass runners, and only retain elite runners and elite wheelchair marathon runners. .
In the critical stage of epidemic prevention and control, this was an understandable decision, but the decision that "the registration fee for the public group contestants will not be refunded" has caused a lot of controversy and doubts on social networks.
For runners who registered overseas, it is indeed a pity that they missed an opportunity to experience the Tokyo Marathon’s refined and humanized services. However, the cancellation of the event involved hotel, air ticket refunds and even intermediary disputes with running travel companies, which were even more regrettable. Give them a headache with .
The Tokyo Marathon is one of the six major running events in the world. Data chart
Registration fee will not be refunded, more understanding than doubt
"To register for East Malaysia 2021, you need to pay an additional registration fee; the registration fee and charitable donations for East Malaysia 2020 will not be refunded."
For a time, the Tokyo Marathon was on social networks was pushed to the forefront of public opinion.
"Today we have a plan to cancel the mass group with more than 30,000 people. Not only will the registration fee for 2020 not be refunded, but it will also have to be paid again in 2021." Well-known runner Coral commented on the decision of the Tokyo Marathon with a joke on social networks , "If this were a Chinese event, the players would probably collectively complain, 'The organizing committee is crazy for money,' and 'Boycott the organizing committee together'..."
However, the Tokyo Marathon also clearly emphasized that this year's registration fee will not be paid. The refund measure comes from the "Registration Agreement" of the registration outline.
does indeed stipulate in the first paragraph of Article 22 of the contract: "The race is caused by snowfall, heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and fires in buildings around the track. If the road is impassable, the registration fee will be refunded; or if the competition is suspended due to earthquakes or the national instant warning system (excluding war and terrorist attacks), the registration fee will also be refunded. Refunds will not be given in other circumstances that result in the cancellation of the game. ”
Volunteers guard the medals of the Tokyo Marathon. Data picture
Regarding the organizing committee’s decision and explanation under this special epidemic situation, there are still more understanding voices among the public participants.
Many Japanese runners are online "There is nothing we can do this time. It is really a pity for those players who won the quota," "However, the organizers of the event did make a valuable judgment. If measures cannot be taken, Japan's The number of infected people will continue to increase at an accelerated rate. "
Looking back at the series of decisions made by the Tokyo Marathon during the epidemic, it is not difficult to see the caution of this event.
In the past two weeks, the Tokyo Marathon has taken 4 measures, from disinfecting the venue to issuing "surgical masks." Then they distributed sterilizing wet wipes at the finish area and then called on Chinese players to give up this year's competition. It was not until the epidemic started to spread in Japan that the organizing committee finally decided to cancel the mass competition with more than 30,000 people.
Several Chinese people signed up to participate. The runner also told The Paper, “The current situation is unique and we have no complaints about the Tokyo Marathon. "
An overseas sports tourism practitioner also told The Paper that "many foreign events are unable to enter the country due to force majeure such as the epidemic, and most of the organizing committees will not refund fees. There are not many events like the Jerusalem Marathon that support refunds, and they also charge a refund fee of US$10. ”
Most runners expressed their understanding of the Tokyo Marathon’s decision. Data picture
Intermediary dispute, which is right and which is wrong?
Compared with the clear decision of the organizing committee to cancel the mass competition, many Chinese runners were disappointed and annoyed
"I started negotiating with the travel company that helped me book the hotel for a refund on February 6, but the other party immediately told me that it was not possible, and it continues to this day. There were no other replies. ”
Hu Rong, who originally planned to participate in the Tokyo Marathon this year, encountered a refund dispute after she decided to give up the race.
Hu Rong started running marathons in 2015 and has participated in the 2017 Boston Marathon and the 2018 Nagoya Marathon. This "runner" whose best time can run under 3 hours, this time completed the Tokyo Marathon registration through the channels of elite runners.
"Theoretically, I can participate in the competition, but I feel that in the face of the epidemic, protecting myself is also protecting others, so I decided to give up."
However, when she was communicating with the travel company that helped her book the hotel, , but the other party replied that she could not refund the hotel fee.
conversation screenshot.
According to The Paper, this company, Shenzhen Qi Ling Commune Tourism Co., Ltd., was registered and established in December 2016, and its business scope includes marathon tourism.
After Hu Rong got her quota for the Tokyo Marathon, she contacted this travel agency, paid 4,000 yuan for accommodation for three days, and booked a room in a Tokyo hotel. After unsuccessfully trying to get a refund from the travel agency, she called the hotel herself. The other party informed Hu Rong that this company had booked four hotels, and all of them had negotiated cancellations and refunds.
"I have not signed a contract with this travel company, but I have consulted a lawyer, and this situation can be regarded as creating a contractual relationship." Hu Rong told The Paper that she had planned to resort to law.
Hu Rong also contacted other runners who also signed up for the Tokyo Marathon through travel companies. "They have a package purchase of 'place + hotel', which costs more than 30,000 yuan, and they are now trying to get refunds."
As of press time, reporters from The Paper tried to contact the company by phone and WeChat, but did not receive any reply.
Hu Rong contacted the hotel in Tokyo herself.
In fact, Hu Rong’s experience is not an isolated case. Another runner who signed up for the Tokyo Marathon, Xiao Wang, told The Paper that she also encountered an intermediary dispute, but after she posted her experience on social networks, the other party approached her to negotiate a solution.
From the perspective of running tourism practitioners, they are also the ones who suffer losses. "We cannot absorb all the losses ourselves. We can only bear them together with the users." A practitioner said in an interview with Phoenix News time indicates.
As for how to resolve the issue through negotiation, it can only be resolved through further negotiation and legal channels. It is also hoped that this incident will bring more reflection and a more refined and institutionalized operating model to the overseas horse racing industry.
