Everyone who has done competitive sports at a high level knows that preparations for Olympic Games do not start a year in advance, but cover a four-year cycle. Now a decision is being forced on athletes a year before the Paris Olympics. The previous two years of preparation seem senseless.

The main point is not that the implementation of this new idea is total nonsense as it always depends on an individual point of view. It’s about the fact that athletes must have the opportunity to prepare for their event for an entire cycle of 4 years. We need fair preparation conditions for the athletes, which aren’t given with this decision.

Removing events without proper consultation and understanding of their significance is short-sighted and will have long-term repercussions. Racewalking has been an underrated and misunderstood sport for too long, and events like the 35km racewalking event have been instrumental in building a community around the sport. 

This petition will probably come to nothing, as neither World Athletics nor the IOC has ever acted in the interest of the athletes. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need for action for the athletes who want to live their Olympic dream.

A mixed relay consisting of one man and one woman over the distance of a marathon is not a solution:

1. It doesn't shorten the event because you still have to plan for a duration of 2:50-3:10 hours and within that time, a 35km distance is still manageable.

2. The 10km distance is a sprint for athletes who have trained for much longer distances in the past years. Therefore, technical errors are expected, which could tarnish the sport's reputation in the media.

3. The announcement during the Olympic Games qualification period was made too late. Athletes must have the opportunity to prepare for their event for an entire cycle of 4 years.

If action is really going to be taken in the athletes' interest, there are only two options:

1. A mixed 35km event with one man and one woman per team, as was initially proposed.

2. A 35km event where the top-30 men and women participate together. The start will be simultaneous, and the scoring will be separate. As a result, a total of 60 athletes will be on the track, and the competition will be concluded after nearly three hours.

Dear IOC, dear World Athletics,

Why do you make it so difficult for us athletes? Why do you keep putting hurdles in our way? You have already disappointed us with the elimination of the 50km distance. Now we are slowly getting the impression that you just want to rob us of any motivation. Please act in the interest of the athletes and in the sense of a fair Olympic preparation. #SaveThe35K