Olympic Games: what they’ll look like

The coronavirus hasn’t been contained yet and no international spectators will be allowed, but Japan is ready to host the Olympics in July

IT’S the greatest sporting spectacle on Earth, an ultimate test of elite athletes striving to jump higher, run faster and be stronger than anybody else. A gold medal has made lifelong heroes of men and women at the top of their game – think Chad le Clos powering through the pool, Caster Semenya sprinting down the track, or Wayde van Niekerk wrapping himself in the SA flag after breaking the world record.

During those Olympic Games the stands heaved with cheering crowds and athletes congratulated each other on the podium. But how times have changed.

The Tokyo Games were postponed last year as a shellshocked world grappled with the pandemic, breaking athletes’ hearts and devastating Japan, which had poured millions into the games.

But all is not lost. It looks like the Games will go ahead on 23 July – albeit like never before.

FLAME OF HOPE

A runner recently set off from Naraha, Fukushima, bearing the Olympic torch which will travel for a total of 121 days in the hands of relay athletes from all 47 of Japan’s prefectures.

One of the torchbearers is also the world’s oldest person – supercentenarian Kane Tanaka (118).

Once it arrives in Tokyo, it’ll be used to light the torch in the main stadium, marking the start of the Games.

The relay is one of the Games’ most iconic rituals and is usually marked by cheering crowds along the way. This year, however, the start was hailed with more of a hush and a hurrah. The Tokyo Games organising committee encouraged people to watch the relay live at home instead of heading outdoors. Fans who did venture out were ordered to clap instead of cheer and to keep their distance or the event would be suspended.

Naraha was chosen for its symbolism – it’s one of the areas worst hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that claimed the lives of 20 000 people.

The torch’s rose gold colour is a tribute to Japan’s famous cherry blossoms, while a third of the torch was made of the same aluminium that was used to temporarily house those who were displaced by the disaster.

“For the past year, as the entire world went through a difficult period, the Olympic flame was kept alive quietly but powerfully,” Seiko Hashimoto, head of the Games’ organising committee, said at the opening ceremony.

HISTORIC GAMES 〉〉

The Tokyo Olympics, which begin on Friday 23 July and end on Sunday 8 August, will be the first-ever Games to have been postponed.

In 2016 there was a Zika virus outbreak just before the Rio Olympics and many feared it would disrupt the spectacle. But that virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes catastrophic complications in babies born to infected pregnant women, was contained and the Games went ahead.

As Covid-19 is an airborne disease, it’s a far more formidable foe. And because the Games were postponed and not cancelled, the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo organisers agreed they’d retain their 2020 branding, so all signage, TV graphics, souvenirs, sports kits, and even the athletes’ medals will say “Tokyo 2020.”

THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE

The famed Olympic Village is where fit young people in the prime of their life from more than 200 countries congregate, mingle and, well, enjoy international relations.

Athletes’ shenanigans are so legendary Australia supplied its athletes with condoms during the 2016 Games in addition to the vending machines dotted around the village. This year will be very different, with the International Olympic Committee announcing that to prevent the Games becoming a nightmare super-spreader event, social distancing at all times is compulsory.

Hugs, high-fives and handshakes are forbidden and masks are compulsory except when competing. Athletes aren’t allowed to arrive more than five days ahead of their first day of competition and must leave within 48 hours of competing. Sightseeing won’t be allowed. Physical distancing of 2m must be observed at all times where possible. Athletes will be provided with special transport to get to their events and must avoid public transport at all costs.

They’ll also only be allowed in the Olympic village a day or two before their event and must head home as soon as their competition is over.

〈〈 NO FOREIGN FANS

Organisers say about 1 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets were sold to fans from outside Japan, but foreign visitors won’t be allowed and their money will be refunded. Some 10 million visitors had been expected to make their way to Japan during the games.

About 4,45 million tickets were sold to Japanese residents but organisers haven’t yet said if the stadiums will be allowed to be filled to capacity. According to local media reports, it’s likely stadiums will only be allowed to be half-full to allow for social distancing.

It’s disappointing, says Sunette Viljoen, SA’s Olympic javelin thrower and silver medallist.

“Any athlete will tell you the crowd sets the tone for the event,” she says. “We’ll have to mentally prepare ourselves for not getting that adrenaline injection usually provided by the crowd. It’ll literally be a case of survival of the fittest.”

THE TESTING POLICY

Athletes will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test before travelling to Japan and will be tested again on arrival.

While in Tokyo, each athlete must submit a daily report of their health via a cellphone app and organisers say competitors can expect randomised tests at any time. Any athlete who tests positive will immediately be put in isolation or admitted to hospital.

International volunteers have been banned and a final decision on whether athletes’ families will be allowed to attend the Games is yet to be made.

MIGHTY MONEY AT STAKE

Postponing the Games for a year and putting Covid-19 countermeasures and precautions in place have added nearly $3 billion in additional costs.

When Tokyo won the bid for the 2020 Games, organisers said the Games would cost $7,3bn. Shortly before it was postponed last year, costs had risen to $12,6bn – although overspending on stadiums and infrastructure usually happens with host cities.

Most of these costs are being carried by the Japanese government and local sponsors. If the Games had been cancelled, the country would lose about $12,6bn, according to Forbes.

THE OPENING CEREMONY

This is always a must-watch event, with thousands of athletes from 206 nations and territories parading in front of the world.

The organisers have hinted that this year’s ceremony will be simpler, with fewer frills. The parade may be restricted to athletes only and a handful of team officials, all of whom will be Covid-tested before taking part.