Test events for Tokyo Games

The postponed Tokyo Olympics are getting a kickstart. Local organizers announced Friday a series of 18 test events set to begin in March and run into May. The Tokyo Olympics are set to open on July 23, 2021, after being postponed eight months ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement in an online news conference came the same day that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported a one-day record of 570 new coronavirus infections in the capital. Although Japan has handled the pandemic better than most countries, cases have been surging recently with about 2,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in a country of 125 million. Officials said at least four of the test events will involve athletes from abroad, including tests in swimming, gymnastics, diving and volleyball. A track and field meet on May 9 at the new National Stadium is listed as test event. It isn’t clear if athletes from abroad will participate. None of the test events will allow fans from abroad, although some events will permit an unspecified number of fans from Japan.