It's been half a year until the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on the 23rd.
With the state of emergency for infectious diseases being declared in the host city, the convention is an exceptional preparation based on Corona.
Regarding the tournament, while the players who have been appointed as representatives have heard that they believe in the event and will continue practicing, there are also voices from home and abroad concerned about the event this summer based on the current infection situation. It's coming.
In order to hold the tournament, it is important to be able to hold a tournament to select representative athletes all over the world. First of all, attention is being paid to whether the Olympic qualifying for artistic swimming scheduled in Tokyo can be held in March.
In addition, securing medical staff to be active at the competition venue is a major issue for a safe and secure competition, and it is difficult to coordinate with the medical institutions that are tight in Corona.
On the other hand, for spectators, the maximum number of people and acceptance from overseas will be decided by spring, but all options are assumed according to the infection situation, including non-spectators.
In particular, the acceptance of spectators from overseas has been raised by the people involved in the tournament as the government strengthens border measures, saying that it may be difficult to accept spectators from overseas.
The tournament is an exceptional preparation based on Corona, and the tournament organizing committee and the IOC = International Olympic Committee are asked whether it can be a tournament where athletes and related parties can participate with peace of mind and gain the understanding of the people. I am.
Half-year schedule until the event
It is a schedule until the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, which is approaching half a year.
The first test tournament, which is held from March to May, is to confirm management procedures and issues.
Eighteen competitions are planned, including the Paralympic Games, including the artistic swimming competition that will start in Tokyo from March 4, including athlete inspection systems, spectator infection prevention measures, and immigration control for overseas athletes. , It will be an important place to actually confirm the infectious disease countermeasures that have been examined so far.
And from March 25th, the torch relay will start.
Starting in Fukushima Prefecture, the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, about 10,000 runners will spend 121 days traveling to all prefectures nationwide, for a total of 859 municipalities.
The torch relay is positioned as an important event to increase the momentum for the tournament, and will be operated while taking sufficient measures against infection.
In addition, the maximum number of spectators will be set by spring, and it is expected that the Games Organizing Committee will handle tickets based on this.
At the same time, it is expected that it will be decided how to accept spectators from overseas.
After that, representatives will be selected in each competition in earnest from April to June, and the application for participation of athletes will be closed on July 5.
The competition will begin on July 21 with soccer and softball, and the opening ceremony will be held at the National Stadium on July 23.
Secretary-General Muto "Premise of holding thorough measures against corona"
Secretary-General Muto of the Games Organizing Committee told reporters on the 21st, "We think about what we can do on the premise of holding the Games, and take thorough measures against corona" for the Games six months later. We will take measures. There is a good chance that the situation of infection will improve. If that happens, we may deepen our understanding of holding the Games. ”He expressed his willingness to hold the event after taking measures against infection.
Regarding the further postponement of the tournament, he expressed a negative opinion, "It may not be possible to say absolutely, but it is very difficult. It will not be realistic."