Tokyo 2020 events begin today despite rise in Covid-19 cases

BY Shehan Daniel

Preliminary round events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will begin today, with organisers forging ahead despite a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases amongst those participating in the games.

The number of positives cases among those accredited for the games reached 67 yesterday, organisers said, a sum spanning the last 20 days. 
International media reported that Chief of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee Toshiro Muto had not ruled out cancelling the games if the number of Olympic Covid-19 cases spiked.
“We will continue discussions if there is a spike in cases,” Muto was quoted as saying.

“We have agreed that based on the coronavirus situation, we will convene five-party talks again. At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall, so we will think about what we should do when the situation arises.”

An outbreak in the South African football squad has resulted in two dozen people affiliated with the team having to individually quarantine, potentially jeopardizing their opening match of the tournament scheduled for Thursday.

The Covid-19 pandemic has already brought about the postponement of the games by a year, with organisers deciding to conduct the games in front of empty stands in attempt to minimise health risks.

Some of the event’s top sponsors have opted to boycott the opening ceremony on Friday while a major car manufacturer dropped all its television advertisements linked to the games, as corporates contemplated the impact in Japan of being associated with the games.

Public protests have been a highlight in the lead up to the Olympics, with polls suggesting there was an overwhelming desire among the Japanese for the games to be cancelled or further postponed in the fear it could turn into a super-spreader event.

Despite the dark clouds hanging over the games, opening round matches of the Softball competition will take place at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium today, while the Women’s Football competition begins at three different venues.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan gymnast Milka Gehani and judoka Chamara Dharmawardene, both of whom will be flag bearers at Friday’s opening ceremony, reached Tokyo yesterday.
Gehani was already in Japan as part of her IOC Solidarity Scholarship programme, while Dharmawardene arrived from Kosovo where he took part in a training camp before the Olympics.
Three other Sri Lankan athletes, Niluka Karunaratne, shooter Tehani Egodawela and swimmer Aniqah Gaffoor began their training yesterday.

All three will feature on the first day of Olympic competition on Saturday.