Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), rarely finds such clear words.

At a press conference on Saturday, he appealed to the Japanese population, who are largely opposed to hosting the Summer Games in Tokyo, to give the athletes who are now gradually flying into the city a positive reception.

"I would once again humbly ask the Japanese people to welcome and support the athletes," he said.

The Japanese people and the athletes have "the suffering of the pandemic in common".

And the athletes would have "overcome so many obstacles to get here."

Evi Simeoni

Sports editor.

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When a Japanese journalist asked, he said: “We are very well informed about the skepticism of a number of people in Japan. The media are reporting about it very carefully. ”But the athletes who came to Japan had the same interest as the hosts:“ Safe games. ”And he made it clear that these games, which should start on Friday, were the most restrictive Sporting event “not just in Japan, but all over the world”.

He was probably alluding to the fact that other sporting events are currently being held in front of a limited number of spectators in Japan, such as the sumo tournament in Nagano, while fans were completely excluded for the games.

Bach expressed the hope that the moment when Japanese athletes were successful in the competitions, the mood would become "less emotional, not to say less aggressive." Protesters in front of the IOC hotel had been taken away by the police on Saturday have to.

Positive test in the Olympic village

The fact that Bach became so clear and explicitly defended the athletes against the rejection in the host country suggests some suppressed displeasure after 15 months of work on a sophisticated concept that will prevent the spread of the corona virus at the games, and above all through the games should. In fact, the Olympic guests are required to move around permanently in an impenetrable bubble, and compliance is strictly controlled, for example through satellite surveillance. In addition, the Olympic family will be tested closely for Covid-19. But even in this bubble, positive cases cannot be completely avoided.

What was feared happened on Saturday: Despite all the rigid precautionary measures, a resident of the Olympic Village tested positive for Covid-19. According to the organizing committee, it should not be an athlete. The person, a foreigner, had tested negative upon arrival at the Tokyo airport. It was not stated whether she was vaccinated. The organizing committee immediately took the necessary measures and quarantined the person.

This process confirms that nothing and no one can stop the coronavirus from penetrating into the heart of the Olympic Games. But it also shows that the organizing committee's catalog of measures is taking effect, that the case was discovered quickly and that a clear plan is being followed for such cases. At least that's how Bach argued. He explained that between July 1 and 16, around 15,000 people accredited for the Olympics had arrived in Tokyo. 15 had tested positive on arrival or through the subsequent test program. "That's a very low rate, 0.1 percent."

All those affected were immediately isolated and posed no risk to other participants or the Japanese population. In addition, the refugee team, most of which are currently still in Qatar, did not fly on to Tokyo because of a positive Covid test.

The Japanese government, said IOC Director Christophe Dubi, who also sat on the podium, is now in the process of checking the entry of the 29 athletes with supervisors.

Six-second selfies from fans

When asked Bach, the Tokyo Games get their historical dimension from the fact that they can take place in a safe way. But they could just as well go down in history as the first games in front of empty stands with a virtually generated pseudo-atmosphere. In the absence of real cheering, the athletes would be exposed to background noise from previous Olympic Games, announced Bach. The selection will be adapted to the special competitions. The athletes would have the feeling of being surrounded by spectators.

In addition, the world’s response will be brought into the stadium. Applause strengths would be displayed on maps of the world, which the IOC hopes will be a competition among sports fans. Six-second selfies from fans would be shown. And selected athletes would have the opportunity to get in touch with their friends and family members live. "We don't want the athletes to feel alone in the stadiums, we want them to know that many people support them."

Meanwhile, a much older conflict materialized in the Olympic Village. There, the Korean delegation hung the balconies of their quarters with banners on which, according to the Yonhap news agency, read: "I still have 50 million Korean people behind me." This is what Admiral Yi Sun-sin is said to have said during the battle of Myongnyang in 1597 before he sank the Japanese fleet, although Korea was clearly in the minority of boats. The banners had to be removed at the instigation of the IOC. Political statements in the protected Olympic rooms - this once lively discussed topic almost went under with all the protests and appeasements surrounding the pandemic.