The dawn of a festival without a sense of festivity-The Tokyo Olympics of Corona-Bad-July 24, 19:22

"Postponed", "Cancelled", "Headwind", "No Audience".

A number of negative words lined up to describe the Tokyo Olympics.

The Tokyo Olympics, which began on the 23rd after the first postponement of one year in history, is far from the image of the former "enthusiasm" and "festival".

In such a strange atmosphere, the competition has started and the leading athletes have already begun to move.

You may not get the applause at the tournament, which is greeted with an unprecedented atmosphere.

What will the Olympic Games, which will be held in Tokyo for the first time in 57 years, bring to athletes and us, and what will be left behind in the future?

(Sports News Department Reporter Misako Imai Nozomi Kunitake Ryohei Taya Tomohisa Konno)

Opening ceremony symbolizing an unusual tournament

The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics held on the 23rd.

There was no single spectator in the spectators' seats at the National Stadium, which was supposed to be filled with cheers.

The first postponement in history, and the holding of most venues with no spectators.

The opening ceremony was a symbolic ceremony that marked the beginning of the "festival", which was filled with the cheers and enthusiasm of the crowd at the former competition.

However, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games, which had no spectators, was an unusual series, and it was a scene that made us feel the Games again.

A competition that opened with no spectators

Even though it was in the morning, the suffocating heat covered my face.

Two days before the opening ceremony, the opening game of softball and the match between Japan and Australia were held ahead of the 33 competitions of the Tokyo Olympics.

The prefectural Azuma Stadium in Fukushima City was chosen as the venue for the opening round to symbolize the reconstruction Olympics.

However, there is no other person on the stand than the people involved, and the players' shouts and cicadas cry.

The match was won by Japan, where the good throw of ace Yukiko Ueno and the hitting line including three home runs were engaged.

Ueno talked about the unattended after the match.

Softball Yukiko Ueno

"I

'm

very disappointed. In the final of the 2018 World Championship, how much did you push your back with the call from the stand? I do not forget the regret that I could not respond to the cheers. So I will revenge. It's a tournament I've been hoping for, so I'm honestly sad that there is no cheering. However, what I should do as a player remains the same.

Reconstruction Olympics Locals

Security guards, volunteers, and media people in the same industry pass each other in the venue.

What caught my eye at the venue was the rows of morning glories lined up around the perimeter.

It is said that local elementary school students were brought up with a feeling of hospitality.

"

Don't

lose to Corona, do your best for the Olympics"

"Don't give up, I'll do my best with a lot of luck"

A message from children who couldn't visit the venue quietly welcomed the athletes.

On my way home after the match, I met a man who was a medical volunteer who had a black tan.

I asked a man from Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, how he perceives the non-audience.

A male medical volunteer

"I wanted you to join us, but it's complicated, because it's best not to be busy."

It is said that the cameraman who was interviewing complained of poor physical condition on this day when the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in the midsummer sun.

There would have been more similar illnesses with the audience, and it may have put a strain on local medical care, which was overwhelmed by Corona's response.

A male medical volunteer

"I watched the Tokyo Olympics on TV when I was eight years old. I still have memories of that time in my mind. I want students and children to see it at the venue and have that kind of experience. To be honest,

Chairman Hashimoto of the Games Organizing Committee, who inspected the opening game, held a press conference on the theme of reconstruction that evening.

Seiko Hashimoto, Chairman of the Games Organizing Committee

"I honestly want you to see it. Especially children are more sensitive than adults at the stage of growth, so seeing the Olympics directly will help shape the future. I think it's important. "

He showed a regrettable expression, but the next moment, he tightened his expression and continued.

Seiko Hashimoto, Chairman of the Games Organizing Committee

"I'm sorry to the locals if the situation becomes more difficult after that, so I'm glad that I decided to have no spectators. It's important to make efforts that make you feel good because it was the Tokyo Games that were held in that way. "

In Fukushima, which was the opening place, there were people who were confused but struggling to make it valuable.

What do Olympic athletes think?

Where are the thoughts of the players who are the protagonists of the tournament?

Kohei Uchimura, a legend in the gymnastics world, has won an all-around gold medal for two consecutive tournaments.

Uchimura, who said that the Tokyo Olympics are the biggest goal of his life, said that he would switch to one horizontal bar for each event at this tournament due to the effects of shoulder pain, etc. Has been revealed without hiding.

However, due to the influence of the new Corona, the environment surrounding the Tokyo Olympics has changed drastically, and people's views on the "Olympic Games" have changed from the previous Games.

Last November, Uchimura appealed to the world at an international gymnastics competition.

"I want you to think about how you can do it, not what you can't do."

Athletes who have fought the Olympics for their lives, prepared for criticism, made a heartfelt appeal.

There was a relentless criticism of it.

"It's not the case when you're doing sports."

"It's the ego of athletes."

In an "undesirable" headwind

As such voices gradually began to be heard, there was a change in Uchimura's mind as to whether or not the Olympic Games could be held.

"We have no power to change players"

I have a feeling that I arrived at while facing myself.

"I like gymnastics. Whether or not there is a tournament as a position to aim for the Olympics is a very important issue, but I started doing gymnastics in the first place and I came here. I'll do my best in the match. "

I know that there are many people who suffer from the new Corona and who want to cancel the tournament.

I can understand anxiety.

Still,

there are surely some voices who want to give light to the dark world.

The starting point that Uchimura arrived at in various thoughts was "what I can do."

I will do my best to act in front of me.

After deciding that, I became more fond of gymnastics.

In June, Uchimura, who decided to participate in the Olympic Games for four consecutive tournaments, talked about the goal of the Olympic Games from the bottom of his heart, not winning a gold medal.

"I want to laugh. Simply. I want to laugh when I finish my performance and land."

The smile that a rare athlete shows after his performance is a ray of light for a society that is exhausted by corona.

It was a refreshing word that made me feel such hope.

The feelings for the Olympics are not limited to athletes

Athletes are not the only ones who can put special feelings into the tournament.

Teruaki Nakamura Clark (32) acted as a "placard bearer" who led the players of each country and region at the entrance march of the opening ceremony.

Nakamura, who is also a top athlete in the American football league, was attending the opening ceremony with a certain thought in mind.

Nakamura was born in France because of the work of his father, a cook.

Both my parents are Japanese, but I went to a local school and grew up blending in with the culture.

However, when I returned to Japan at the age of 11, I couldn't read and write enough and couldn't keep up with the lessons.

It was American football that I met when I was in high school that changed Nakamura's fate.

When he entered Nihon University, a university powerhouse, he played an active role as a core player, and even working adults continued to compete and became the best in Japan.

From his own experience, he wanted to give back to sports.

Placard bearer Teruaki Nakamura Clark

"Sports have brought me all the things I can do now and meet many people. I understand that it is a difficult situation, but I can help even a little. I wanted to. I was relieved that the main players entered with a happy smile. It was impressive that the players were looking forward to the event. I want you to fully exert your strength and fight with all your might so that you will not have any regrets. "

Nakamura, who finished leading the four teams at the opening ceremony, bowed to the ground.

The wish for the athletes to be able to fight safely to the end and the gratitude for the sport were included.

Organizer who talks about hope for the Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics began with the torch of fire in Tokyo for the first time in 57 years.

IOC President Thomas Bach, who hosts the Games, seemed to be a little smaller than when he came to Japan last November.

The usual cheerful jokes lurked in the shadows, creating a tingling atmosphere.

I was fully aware of the harsh environment surrounding Japan, such as public opinion calling for the re-expansion and cancellation of infection in Japan, and the critical look toward myself.

Bach, who has consistently shown confidence in hosting the tournament, also revealed that he was skeptical that the tournament could really be held for the first time.

Nevertheless, he talked about his hopes for the Olympics.

IOC President Thomas Bach

"The world is looking for hope now. That is why holding it now is a positive message to the world. We will hold the tournament even though the world has experienced the difficult situation of the new Corona. This can show Japan's achievements. The Games will be a symbol of hope and unity. "

Will "Tokyo" be a ray of light?

The "hope" that Bach talks about is not yet visible in the present world.

Some may have witnessed the opening ceremony of the Corona Olympics with mixed feelings.

The opening ceremony began with a smile that can be seen through the masks of the athletes marching in.

The opening ceremony, which was finally reached after a one-year postponement, made me feel that it was a special stage for athletes.

I would like to see for 17 days whether the Olympic Games will be a ray of light for this society, where self-restraint and patience will be forced and division will progress.

Sports News Department Reporter

Misako Imai

Joined in 2001.

Tokyo Organizing Committee coverage cap.

Also in charge of sports climbing and wheelchair tennis.

This is the fourth Olympic coverage following Beijing, Vancouver and Rio.

Nozomi Kunitake, a

reporter for the Sports News Department,

joined in 2010.

In charge of the IOC.

Before Corona, he covered European sports for half a year based in Paris.

Addicted to pictogram performance at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics

Ryohei Taya, a

reporter for the sports news department

, joined the station in 2010, and has been assigned to Tokyo for four years after experiencing winter sports coverage at the Kushiro and Sapporo stations.

Mainly in charge of JOC, gymnastics and figure skating.

Height 180 cm 77 kg, O type

Sports News Department Reporter

Tomohisa Konno Joined in 2011

.

After working at the Okayama station and the Osaka station, he has been in charge of figure skating and golf since last year.

Struggling to raise children as a father of one child