The persistence of the pandemic and sudden resurgences of the coronavirus, including in Japan, are disrupting preparations for the Games and fueling uncertainty about the possibility, and the advisability, of organizing the event this summer (July 23-8 august). Test events have been postponed, the Olympic torch relay has been reduced to a minimum and new health restrictions are in place in Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Despite this, the tone of organizers and Olympic officials remains confident, with their public statements focusing not on whether the Games will be held, but on how they will be held. They have reason to be optimistic: the Olympic torch relay started in Fukushima (north-east) last month – even if the spectators could not attend the start and the first stage -, and programs of vaccination are underway in many countries, with some Olympic teams having already been vaccinated. Japan does not require Olympic participants to be vaccinated, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) encourages vaccinations and has obtained Chinese-made doses for athletes from countries without access. In Japan, sporting events continue, with limited attendance, and fans are already following the rules that will apply to the Games this summer, including a ban on cheering.
Good and bad news
North Korea’s decision not to take part in the Tokyo Olympics due to the virus has not had a snowball effect, with athletes mostly looking forward to returning to the international stage. “The past 14 months have been very motivating for all of us,” five-time Olympic gold medalist American swimmer Katie Ledecky said last week. “We really want to show the world all the hard work we’ve put in.” In Japan, swimmer Rikako Ikee sparked excitement by earning a spot on the Olympic relay team, just two years after being diagnosed with leukemia. But the news is far from all positive. The resurgence of the coronavirus has thus forced the Japanese government to reimpose restrictions just three weeks after lifting the previous ones. In Osaka (west), the governor has banned the passage of the Olympic flame on public roads: the relay will take place in a park closed to spectators. A water polo test event was canceled due to Japanese border restrictions. Other qualifying events have been postponed.
“Safe Games”
Despite these problems, the organizers of Tokyo-2020 say they are confident and “able to organize safe and secure Games”. They have published “manuals” listing the strict anti-virus measures which will be updated this month, in the hope of allaying the fears of a Japanese public still largely opposed to these Games, already postponed for a year in due to the pandemic, a first in peacetime. The tens of thousands of athletes and other Olympic participants arriving from abroad will escape quarantine and will not be required to present proof of vaccination. But the athletes will have to limit their movements, only stay in the Olympic village for the duration of their events and undergo regular screening tests. The Games will not welcome overseas fans, and a decision on the number of spectators residing in Japan could be made this month. Anyway, the atmosphere will be far from the usual big parties accompanying this planetary event. Television will be king. Polls show most Japanese would prefer a further postponement or cancellation, but those in favor of their outfit outnumbered before, rising from 11% in January to 27% in March. “The Covid-19 situation will naturally influence public opinion about the Games,” the organizers said in response to questions from AFP. Most Olympics face criticism before they are held, they noted, saying they expect a change in mood once the athletes take to the stage.
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