This year the last ever 50-kilometer racewalking event will be seen at the Tokyo Olympics as the organising bodies of the sporting event have decided to scrap off the traditional competition due to concerns related to gender equality.

The International Olympic Committee came to the conclusion that the 50-kilometer racewalk, which has often been deemed as one of the most difficult and intense sporting events of Olympic level competitions, fails to fit with the organisation’s mission to achieve gender equality. 

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The 50-kilometer racewalk does not have an approximate equivalent for the women’s category. Instead of adding an event for women, the International Olympic Committee has decided to introduce a mixed team racewalking event, according to reports from the New York Times.

The mixed team event is likely to be inducted in the upcoming Paris games.

The event, at the Tokyo Olympics, witnessed a change in venue. Like the marathons, the 50-kilometer race walk was moved to Sapporo from Tokyo, which is on the northern island of Hokkaido. The shift in the venue was ordered to accommodate the temperature requirements.

The 50 kilometer racewalking event was introduced to Olympic events nearly a century ago at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932. Since then, the event has been organised in every summer game with Montreal Olympics, which were held in 1976, being the only exception.

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Reports from New York Times also suggest that the sporting event does not cater to the taste of the new generation as it takes several hours to complete and is not as eventful and nailbiting as other fast-paced sports.

Yohann Diniz, who plays for France, currently holds the world record in the 50-kilometer race, took three hours 32 minutes and 33 seconds to walk a course of 31 miles in 2011, according to reports from the New York Times.