As it has been half a year until the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of the competition groups and asked about the adjustment status of the athletes. The delay in adjustment has become clearer, far exceeding "I'm out".
Many people have said that they are unable to participate in international competitions due to the influence of the new coronavirus and lack practical experience, and the issue is how to adjust the players for the actual competition.
Before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey on the current status of unofficial athletes and designated athletes from December to January, and all 33 athletes and divisions. We received answers from 42 strengthening staff, including the competitions that divide the game.
When asked about whether or not the players could participate in the tournament, 57% said that they were able to participate in the domestic tournament but not in the international tournament, and that they were not able to participate in both domestic and overseas tournaments. 12 %have become.
Only 24% of the respondents said they were able to participate in all of them, and the fact that the athletes did not have sufficient experience in actual battles, especially in international competitions, emerged against the backdrop of the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
In addition, when asked about the adjustment status with multiple answers compared to January last year before the postponement, 45% answered "delayed", 29% answered "advanced", and 36% answered "no change". The delay in our adjustment has become clear.
Many people said that they had time to grow technically as the reason for "advancing", but all the athletes who answered "behind" were "lack of practical experience". In addition to that, there were also answers such as "I cannot secure a sufficient training environment" and "Injured people are out due to lack of training".
Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it is not possible to participate in international competitions and there is a lack of practical experience and training, so the issue is how to strengthen and adjust athletes for the actual competition six months later.
Gymnastics Asuka Teramoto Postponement is a plus
Asuka Teramoto, a gymnast, suffered a serious injury during practice in February last year, and was at risk of participating in the Tokyo Olympics at one point, but due to the postponement, she was able to practice with sufficient rehabilitation, and the big stage six months later. Looking ahead.
Teramoto, who has participated in the Olympic Games for the second time in a row, was expected to participate in the Tokyo Games as the captain of the Japanese national team at the adult World Championships.
However, he ruptured Achilles Ken on his left foot during practice last February.
At that time, before the postponement of the Tokyo Games was decided, "I thought it was impossible to participate in the Olympic Games. Given that I had worked so hard, I thought it would be very frustrating to hand over the representative to another player," he gave up at one point. He talked about his feelings.
Even so, I started rehabilitation by receiving a colored paper with a message of encouragement from Mai Murakami, who was also leading the Japanese national team, and in March it was decided to postpone the Tokyo tournament.
Teramoto said, "I can't really rejoice because there are some players who are at a disadvantage, but to be honest, I'm very relieved. I don't have to accelerate rehabilitation and practice until I take the risk of getting injured again. Then I was able to practice while cultivating the feeling that it would be okay without recurrence, "he recalled.
Six months after the injury, he participated in the domestic tournament, which will be his return race in September, and also participated in the All Japan Championship in December.
The representative of the Tokyo Olympics will be decided by the tournament from spring this year.
Teramoto said, "I'm less impatient and calm than last year, and I feel good. This year has been a real plus for me. I'm glad I got injured because I overcame a big wall. After that, how do you express your own gymnastics and the story of yourself? I've gained practice and confidence, so I want to perform with satisfaction, and as a result, I'd be happy if I could give courage and energy to the general public. " He talked about his enthusiasm in anticipation of the Olympics.
Badminton national team expedition canceled at Corona
In January, the international tournament resumed in earnest in badminton for the first time in nine months, but the Japanese national team was confirmed to be infected with the players just before the expedition and withdrew from the tournament as a team.
Badminton's world tour, which had been suspended since March last year, has resumed in earnest this month from the highest rated international tournament in Thailand, and strong players from all over the world are participating.
The Japanese national team players aiming for the Tokyo Olympics were also scheduled to face the actual battle with top overseas players, but the infection of Kento Momota was confirmed by the PCR test received at Narita Airport on January 3rd on the day of departure. It was.
As a result, other national team players were not recognized as close contacts by the public health center, but the Nippon Badminton Association is forced to take group actions such as practicing on the same court and moving on the same bus. In consideration of the above, we decided to cancel the expedition of all the players including girls.
As a result, the Japanese national team of badminton lost valuable opportunities for actual battles during the six months before the opening of the Tokyo tournament, and was forced to review the strengthening measures.
Many of the Japanese national team players in each competition, not just badminton, are active overseas, and during the expedition, not a little group action is required.
This case, in which the top athletes who were taking measures against infection in preparation for the expedition had no subjective symptoms and the infection was found just before the expedition, once again highlighted the difficulty of resuming sports.
Kinji Zeniya, managing director of the Nippon Badminton Association, said, "I couldn't help but be surprised at the positive result. It was a tough decision for the players because it led to the loss of opportunities to play against overseas players. I didn't. "
Beach volleyball practice environment could not be secured
Beach volleyball, one of the competitions that answered "the adjustment is delayed", cites the lack of training environment and lack of practical experience as the reasons.
A pair of Miki Ishii (31) and Megumi Murakami, who are women's designated athletes and are expected to be represented in the Olympic Games, (35) usually hold a training camp in the warm climate of southern Taiwan at this time of year. I have been here, but I am unable to travel due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and I am based on the coast of Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
In beach volleyball, which is held on the windy beach, there is a risk of injury if your body gets cold, so I put a warmer on my arms and hips and practice while taking measures against the cold.
Furthermore, overseas tours have been canceled since March last year, and the two will celebrate half a year until the start of the Olympic Games, losing the opportunity to actually fight with leading overseas players.
Even so, I am trying to do my best in the current environment and practicing.
Both of them are about 1 meter and 70 centimeters tall and small as beach volleyball players, assuming overseas players with a height difference of 20 centimeters or more, they hit the coach with spikes and serve from the table with a height of 50 centimeters or more. We are taking measures for overseas players who have high height and power.
Murakami said, "Some athletes cannot practice and not all athletes can come to the tournament. It may be different from the Olympic Games we were aiming for, but I think there are some things that can be gained by going there. If we can hold the Games, it is a result of the efforts of various people, so we want to see our best things and play so that everyone can be energized. "
Ishii still keeps the golden notebook of 2020, which he bought in hopes of winning a gold medal.
The written game schedules are lined with cancellations one after another, and finally nothing is written.
Ishii said, "I'm full of feelings at the time when I was in conflict. I don't want to say that I couldn't win because it wasn't the best situation, and I don't want to hear it, so I think I have to do my best to aim for the gold medal." I was looking ahead.
Adjustment delay overseas players
It is said that overseas players are in the same situation that they cannot make sufficient adjustments for the tournament.
Shota Katagiri, who has been the coach of the Kenyan women's volleyball national team for three years, returned to Japan last March following the spread of the new coronavirus.
Mr. Katagiri continues to support by contacting the athletes on SNS and sending videos, but he can not grasp the condition of the athletes in detail and he plans to go to Kenya again from January to the Olympics. is.
The representative players could not practice on the court until around August, and after that, although they are practicing with their team, it seems that there are many players who are weaker than a year ago.
Mr. Katagiri said, "I've heard from a local coach that I was training for the Olympics, but I'm starting over again. I have to return to a body where I can fight again."
On the other hand, Mr. Katagiri says he is concerned about how foreign teams will be seen as the infection continues to spread in Japan.
Mr. Katagiri said, "I feel that various emotions toward people coming from overseas are swirling, and while I do not want to do it in an unwelcome situation, I think that it is selfish. I hope it will be held in a way that can be done. "
Expert "For a tournament that returns to the origin"
Professor Yoshiyuki Mano of Waseda University School of Sport Sciences commented on the current situation in which adjustments are delayed in many competitions. "Athletes not only in Japan but also overseas are facing various conditions such as lack of practical experience and infection with corona. Due to the problem, this tournament may lower the level of competition, and I think it will be a completely different Olympics from the previous tournament. "
On the other hand, "Olympic games are not originally aimed at competing for medals and records, but young people who have trained their minds and bodies gather, foster friendship and seek peace, and the Tokyo Games will return to their starting point. I think it would be good to make it a tournament, "he said. It is a good opportunity to reconsider the way the Olympics should be.
On top of that, as necessary to hold the tournament, "We will firmly convey that we can hold the tournament safely and securely by disseminating and sharing the know-how such as infection control accumulated in large-scale sports tournaments in Japan as finely and accurately as possible. We need to go. "