No-fun Games: Athletes facing strict rules

Sydney Mclaughlin turns 22 three days after the final of the 400-meter hurdles, in which she might win Olympic gold and may even lower her current world record. Her big birthday plans? “Try and find a cupcake and then blow out the candles by myself,” Mclaughlin said.

Welcome to the no-fun Olympics, where celebrations and camaraderie will be muted by stringent rules and regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Navigating the Tokyo Games may prove to be anything but a piece of cake: Masks and social distancing — 2 meters (more than 6 feet) — strictly required. Hugging is a no-no when celebrating. Meals in big groups are to be avoided. Alcohol must be consumed in one’s room — and alone. Family interactions are basically reduced to video chatting.

Not exactly the once-in-alifetime experience many athletes were envisioning.

“In my head, it’s going to be like a really cool jail. Like you’re going to be super excited, but you’re still in jail,” American archer and threetime Olympic medalist Brady Ellison said. “But when we get there, it may not be nearly as bad as what we think it is, right?”

The lengthy playbook — a guideline for a “safe and successful Games” — is filled with “cannots” and “do nots.” Slip-ups and their consequences range from warnings to fines to maybe even worse — expulsion? — for the approximately 15,400 athletes expected to take part in the Olympics and Paralympics.

Athletes are taking the heavy restrictions in stride. Because there’s a big silver lining: They’re finally green-lighted to compete after the Tokyo Games were postponed a year due to COVID-19.

“They’re sacrificing a lot,” USA men’s basketball and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They can’t take their friends or family to Tokyo. It’s a huge sacrifice and I think they deserve a lot of credit for that.”

Then again, athletes have become adept at being flexible.

“I guess the one thing the pandemic has taught me is not to have any expectations and always expect this constant unknown,” said U.S. women’s volleyball player Jordan Larson, who is heading to her third Olympics. “It’s going to be different than our past experiences for sure. But I also think we’re going to look back and be like, ‘Whoa, remember that time we played in an Olympic Games in the middle of the pandemic?’ ”