GAMES COVERAGE
TOKYO: Japan’s women’s softball team got the Tokyo 2020 Olympics off to a winning start for the host nation yesterday, beginning a pandemicpostponed Games that the World Health Organisation (WHO) says can be ‘‘a celebration of hope’’ even as Covid19 cases surge.
Olympics and Japanese officials have forged ahead with the sports spectacle despite opposition in the country to hosting more than 11,000 athletes, staff and media, dozens of whom have tested positive for Covid19.
Spectators have been barred and restrictions have been imposed in and around Tokyo in an effort to minimise health risks among residents and visitors.
WHO directorgeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Games should go ahead to demonstrate to the world what can be achieved with the right plan and measures.
‘‘May the rays of hope from this land illuminate a new dawn for a healthy, safer and fairer world,’’ he said, holding aloft an Olympic Games torch as he addressed International Olympic Committee members in the Japanese capital.
‘‘It is my sincere hope the Tokyo Games succeed.’’
However, Tedros warned the world was in the early stages of another wave of infections and criticised vaccine discrepancies between countries.
Japan, with about 34% of the population having had at least one dose of the vaccine, has been concerned the Olympics could become a superspreader event.
In a recent poll in the Asahi newspaper, 68% of respondents expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organisers to control coronavirus infections, and 55% said they were opposed to the Games going ahead.
Tokyo organisers disclosed a further seven other Covid19 infections among attendees yesterday, bringing the total to 75.
Public broadcaster NHK said a Chilean taekwondo competitor planned to withdraw from the Games after testing positive.
Cases have been increasing in Tokyo.
Japanese media reported that government adviser Shigeru Omi said Tokyo daily Covid19 infections may spike to a record of 3000 in first week of August, more than double their recent peak.
The official opening ceremony tomorrow is expected to be a scaleddown, sobering performance.
In similar vein, the women’s softball match yesterday between Japan and Australia was held without spectators amid buzzing cicadas and polite applause from a few hundred staff at the stadium in Fukushima.
Players standing along the benches in temperatures of 30degC shouted at the hitters all morning, giving the game a Little League feel.
The game ended after five innings due to a mercy rule as a trio of Japanese tworun homers cleared the fence.
Brisbane was celebrating last night after being awarded the 2032 Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee in a landslide vote yesterday.
The Brisbane bid was ratified by a vote of 87 IOC members at a meeting in Tokyo, and IOC president Thomas Bach declared the Queensland capital as host of both the Olympics and Paralympics in 11 years’ time.
Brisbane needed to secure half the votes of its members and 72 voted yes, three members abstained and five voted against in the 80 voting cards distributed.
Brisbane was preferred ahead of Budapest, Korea, Doha and Germany’s Ruhr Valley.
The Brisbane 2032 delegation, including Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, made a formal final presentation to the IOC meeting.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the meeting via a live link from Parliament House and spoke of the Australian Government’s financial commitment to the Games.
He also described Australia's sportsmad multicultural population, with 300 ethnicities, as a ‘‘giant Olympic village’’.
Jamie Kermond was dropped from Australia’s Olympic team yesterday after the show jumper tested positive for cocaine.
The 36yearold from Victoria said his positive ‘‘A’’ sample result was likely from a ‘‘single recreational use of the drug’’ during a social event and had no connection with his sport, according to Australian media outlets.
‘‘I am extremely upset and remorseful as to what has happened and I accept full responsibility,’’ they quoted him as saying in a statement.
‘‘I am truly sorry as I have let a lot of people down including my family and teammates.’’
The hopes of six Polish swimmers have been dashed before competition has even begun.
Poland initially picked 23 athletes but had to cut that to 17 based on world governing body Fina’s qualifying rules.
Polish Swimming Federation president Pawel Slominski apologised and said he understood the anger of those who had returned home. — Reuters/AAP/ RNZ