Wheelchair road race brings 1,600 runners to Okayama

Okayama Prefecture^*1, in western Japan, has announced a big road race^*2 for people who use wheelchairs^*3 and people who do not. The 38th Okayama Kibi Kogen Wheelchair Friendship Road Race was set for Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 9:35 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon.

The race takes place in Kibi Kogen City, an area in the town of Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture. The opening ceremony^*4 is held at the Kibi Kogen Rehabilitation Center^*5. The race is organized by a special committee^*6 for the event. The news came from the Welfare^*7 Consultation Center of the prefecture's disability welfare office on October 2.

The idea of the race is simple. People with disabilities^*8 and people without disabilities run on the same course. In this way, they can understand each other better and make friends. The race also helps runners become stronger and healthier.

There are three distances: a half marathon^*9, 10 kilometers, and 3 kilometers. Each distance has a wheelchair race and a race for runners on foot.

In total, 1,605 people signed up. There are 1,236 men and 369 women. Of these, 53 will race in wheelchairs, and 1,552 will run on foot.

Two special guests were invited to run. One is Tsutomu Sasa, who used to run for the Asahi Kasei track team^*10. The other is Mika Yoshikawa from the Panasonic women's track team.

About 770 officials^*11 and volunteers^*12 will help on race day.

1. *1 Prefecture: a large area of Japan with its own local government, like a state
2. *2 road race: a running race on normal roads, not on a track
3. *3 wheelchairs: chairs with wheels for people who cannot walk well
4. *4 ceremony: a short formal event, with speeches, to open or celebrate something
5. *5 Rehabilitation Center: a place that helps people get stronger again after an illness or injury
6. *6 committee: a group of people chosen to plan and run something
7. *7 welfare: help from the government for people who need care or support
8. *8 disabilities: problems with the body or mind that make some things hard to do
9. *9 half marathon: a running race of about 21 kilometers
10. *10 track team: a company's team of running athletes
11. *11 officials: people who run a race and make sure the rules are followed
12. *12 volunteers: people who help without being paid