It will be 14 days and 100 days until the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.
Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, there have been a series of situations in which it is not possible to foster momentum and prepare for the actual performance, such as postponing the competition test tournament and canceling the torch relay on public roads. The difficulty of is emerging again.
Test tournament postponed
There are 100 days left until the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on July 23.
The Games Organizing Committee will hold test competitions for each competition from April to confirm operational issues including corona countermeasures, but there are three test competitions for swimming, diving with water polo and artistic swimming. , It was postponed because there was no coordination between the national government and the competition organizations over the isolation measures for those who entered the country from overseas.
Difficulty of holding a tournament in Corona
Regarding the torch relay, the relay on public roads was canceled in Osaka Prefecture, which started on the 13th, and other local governments are considering changing the implementation method, and the development of the medical system is delayed. There have been a series of situations in which it is not possible to foster momentum and prepare for the event as expected, and the difficulty of holding the tournament in the Corona Torch is once again emerging.
On the other hand, it is expected that the direction of the upper limit of the number of spectators limited to Japan will be shown by the end of April, and the "play book" that summarizes the rules of corona measures for players and related parties will be updated, etc. The time to decide on important policies for the future is approaching one after another.
While there are negative views on the holding of the Games, the Organizing Committee, etc., can show the way to hold the Games safely in a way that the people can understand toward the opening of the event, which is approaching 100 days. Is in a critical phase.
56 people have been unofficially decided in the past month
In the past month, a total of 56 people have been nominated as representatives for swimming and archery, and the selection of representatives is progressing at a rapid pace in each competition.
The selection of representatives of Japanese athletes began in earnest again in March, and archery and softball were decided as informal athletes. At the Japan Championships in Swimming held in April, Rikako Ikee, who returned to the competition from leukemia, won four crowns. 32 people have been newly appointed as representatives just by swimming, such as achieving the above and deciding to be the representative player of the relay.
Also, at the Men's Athletics Racewalking 50 km, where medals are expected, Satoshi Maruo, who won the Japan Championship on the 11th, grabbed the final representative ticket for this event.
So far, a total of 173 people have been appointed as representatives of the Olympic Games in 15 competitions in Japan.
The total number of Japanese national teams is expected to be around 600 in 33 competitions. From now on, gymnastics will be held at the All Japan Championships in April, the NHK Cup in May, and the Japan Championships in June will be held as representative selections. Representative selection will proceed at a rapid pace until just before.
On the other hand, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the final qualifying for boxing scheduled to be held in Paris was canceled, the diving scheduled to be held in Japan for swimming was held about two weeks later, and marathon swimming was held. Depending on the competition, we are continuing to respond in a fluid manner, such as changing the venue.
The medical system has not been improved
Regarding the countermeasures against the new coronavirus, which is the biggest issue for holding the competition, the medical system such as securing doctors and nurses who are active at the competition venue has not been developed yet.
According to the Games Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Games are asking about 10,000 medical professionals to cooperate in the competition venues throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A maximum of about 300 doctors and about 400 nurses are required per day, and we plan to have about 100 of each take measures against the new corona.
However, coordination with medical institutions has been difficult, and the Organizing Committee has also requested that the number of activity days, which is expected to be about 5 days, be shortened.
In addition, the number of medical staff required may change depending on the upper limit of the number of spectators that will be decided in the future, so the Organizing Committee will consider adjusting the number of days of activity and paying cooperation fees to medical institutions. I am in a hurry to maintain.
On the other hand, as a concrete measure for athletes participating in the competition, one hotel can be rented in case an infected person appears in the Olympic Village so that it can be used as a facility for medical treatment for mildly ill and asymptomatic infected persons. It means that we are coordinating among related organizations.
In addition, we are considering increasing the frequency of inspections of athletes, which was supposed to be at least once every four days in the actual competition.
Torch relay faced with difficulty in corona countermeasures
The torch relay is facing the difficulty of corona countermeasures ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which is about 100 days before the opening.
At the torch relay, which started in Fukushima Prefecture on March 25, the Organizing Committee and others are calling for support through live broadcasting via the Internet to prevent congestion, which is an issue. , The staff along the road are calling attention to avoid crowding.
Until now, "skipping routes" due to excessive congestion has never been performed, but the reality is that many people gather in places such as populated areas and in front of stations, and the situation is often crowded. ..
Furthermore, in Osaka Prefecture, where relays are held for two days on the 12th and 13th, relays on public roads have been canceled for the first time, and runners are invited to the Expo'70 Commemorative Park to hold the relay without the general public.
In areas where the infection of the new corona continues to spread, there is a possibility that scheduled relays on public roads will be canceled or the implementation method will be changed.
In addition, there were some doubts about how to produce the torch relay that makes a loud noise, and the Organizing Committee was in the dilemma of the tournament officials' desire to attract the attention of the people and boost the momentum, and the measures against crowding along the road. Etc. are forced to take difficult measures.
Whether or not the torch relay can be successful while facing these issues one by one is the touchstone for the actual tournament management.