The Tokyo Olympics was postponed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now set to take place without any spectators in the Japanese capital.
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The head of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee, Toshiro Muto has not ruled out a last-minute cancellation of the Games, which starts on Friday. The Tokyo Olympics was postponed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now set to take place in the Japanese capital without any spectators. With more athletes from different countries arriving in Tokyo, the news of athletes or coaches associated with them contracting coronavirus has also started to make headlines. The rising coronavirus cases have only added to the burden of the organisers.
Toshiro Muto was asked at a news conference if the Games might still be canceled amid rising COVID-19 cases. Muto replied that he would keep an eye on infection numbers and hold discussions with organisers if necessary. “We can’t predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases,” he said. “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.”
There have been instances of protests happening in Japan in recent months about the Games being held amid the pandemic situation. To make the Games safer, the organisers have imposed a slew of restrictions, which the athletes, supporting staff, and journalists need to follow. Recently, the Japanese government imposed a state of emergency to contain COVID-19 infections. The state of emergency has been declared from July 7 to August 22, a period covering the entire duration of the Olympics.
On Tuesday, nine new cases were announced, including a volunteer for the first time. A foreign athlete staying in the Olympic village, as well as eight other people associated with the Tokyo Olympics, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to organisers. Aside from the unnamed foreign athlete, organisers said that an Olympic volunteer has tested positive for the virus for the first time since the committee began recording cases on July 1.
On Monday, Mexican baseball authorities informed that two players have tested positive for COVID-19 just days before they were due to leave for Tokyo. “At the beginning of the gathering of the Mexican baseball selection two asymptomatic positive cases of Covid-19 were detected,” the Mexican Baseball Federation and the Mexican Baseball League said.
On the same day, a reserve gymnast, who is associated with the USA women’s team, also tested positive for COVID-19. “The health and safety of our athletes, coaches and staff is our top priority. We can confirm that an alternate on the women’s artistic gymnastics team tested positive for COVID-19. In alignment with local rules and protocols, the athlete has been transferred to a hotel to quarantine. Out of respect for the individual’s privacy, we cannot provide more information at this time,” the USA Olympic Committee said in a statement.
Meanwhile, American tennis player Coco Gauff will not be part of the Tokyo Olympics after the 17-year-old tested positive for the coronavirus. “I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won’t be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Gauff tweeted on Sunday. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future.”
