The Tokyo Olympics are just three days away from the opening.
Prior to this, some competitions will start tomorrow in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Miyagi, and Fukushima.
In addition to the game schedule on the 21st, we have summarized the situation in each area.
Sapporo "Nadeshiko Japan" adjusted before the first match on the 21st
Japan Women's Soccer National Team "Nadeshiko Japan" practiced in Sapporo, where the venue is located, before the first match of the qualifying league against Canada on the 21st.
The first 15 minutes of the practice held in the morning was released, and Mana Iwabuchi and Saki Kumagai, who carry the ace number 10 on their backs, were in good condition for about an hour, occasionally smiling and spinning the ball. Was adjusting.
After the practice, Iwabuchi said, "I'm looking forward to the best international competition I've ever played. Tomorrow is a strong opponent, but I want to hit everything I have and get off to a good start. "I said enthusiasm.
Miyagi Soccer Preparing for the event with spectators
Preparations are also underway at various venues.
Around the venue of "Miyagi Stadium" in Rifu Town, Miyagi Prefecture, which is the only venue where the game will be held on the 21st, there are spots for commemorative photos so that the townspeople and spectators can enjoy the atmosphere of the Olympic Games. Was being prepared.
Objects such as soccer balls with a diameter of about 2 meters are set up in this spot, and underneath it is the "Reconstruction Lawn" raised in Yamamoto Town, the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which was also used in the stadium.
A message board with a width of about 5 meters and a height of 1.5 meters is placed near the "Reconstruction Lawn", and people who stop by to write a message for reconstruction can write it freely.
Mr. Akira Murata, director of the Olympic Promotion Office in Rifu Town, said, "We have been preparing to make memories of a lifetime, so I hope you enjoy this opportunity."
Fukushima "No Audience" Reconstruction Olympics Event Almost Canceled
On the other hand, most of the events were forced to be canceled around the venue, which was held without spectators.
Especially in Fukushima Prefecture, this Olympics was positioned as the "Reconstruction Olympics" from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident, and should have been an opportunity to disseminate the reconstruction status of the affected areas to the world.
Of these, Fukushima Prefecture plans to set up a booth to sell agricultural products by holding stage events such as traditional performing arts around the stadium in line with the softball and baseball game being held at the prefectural Azuma Baseball Stadium in Fukushima City from the 21st. was.
In addition, Fukushima City also planned to hold public viewings at the station square at the west exit of JR Fukushima Station, and to hold stage events and competition experiences in the central city area.
In addition, at Tsurugajo Park in Aizuwakamatsu City and Aquamarine Park in Iwaki City, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Games Organizing Committee had planned a "live site" to support the affected areas, but both were canceled and competitions were held. Since the event was held without spectators, the opportunity to communicate from the disaster area and to interact with people from all over the world was lost.
Children prepare in Chofu City, where Tokyo soccer is held
In Chofu City, where two women's soccer games will be held on the 21st, a so-called "countdown board" will be created to call on citizens to liven up the tournament and inform them of the number of days from 100 days before to the start of each day. It is posted on SNS.
On the 20th, 48 children participated in the "Chofu Municipal Nanairo 1st and 2nd School Children's Club" and worked on making a board representing "1 day left".
After making decorations with colorful tapes and writing cheering messages on drawing paper, 48 people lined up to make a human character saying "one more day" and put it in the picture.
A fourth grader who participated said, "I was supposed to go to see the game, but I couldn't. I hope the players can feel their feelings."
In addition, a child who belongs to the soccer club said, "I want the Japanese national soccer team to win the championship."
Tatsuya Arakawa, who is in charge of the Olympics and Paralympics in Chofu City, said, "It's a pity that the planning of watching school competitions has been canceled, but the citizens are positively energetic to liven up the Olympics. I am very happy to have you participate. There is a competition venue in Chofu City, so I would like to appeal that it is exciting. "
The photos taken will be posted on the Chofu City website and SNS on the 22nd.
Buses for transportation such as athletes arrive in Tokyo one after another from various places
According to the Games Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Organizing Committee is expected to operate up to 2,200 buses per day to transport athletes and tournament officials, with a total of 63,000 drivers involved.
Bus companies in Tokyo and its suburbs are not enough, so about 600 bus companies nationwide are supposed to be dispatched with drivers, and buses departing from various places are gathering one after another just before the opening ceremony. I will.
Of these, five buses and five drivers arrived in Tokyo from a bus company in Saga Prefecture.
Since I left my hometown on the 18th and came for 2 nights and 3 days, I took a break in the service area in Kanagawa prefecture on the 20th and then headed to the transportation bus base in Koto-ku, Tokyo.
The drivers of this company will be trained and will start operations on the 21st.
Driver Koji Ehara said, "It's been 30 years since Tokyo, so I think the road has changed a lot, but since it's a global event, I want to do my best. I'm scared because the virus is invisible, but the passengers also I want you to be careful not to infect yourself and finish it safely. "
The manager of the official tournament shop is lacking in excitement right now ...
The Tokyo Olympics are being prepared for holding in various places.
Some people expected a change in momentum after the opening.
Naomi Oku, who runs the official merchandise shop "Ueno Okachimachi" for the Tokyo Games, which opened in Taito-ku, Tokyo on the 14th of this month, has been international, including the Nagano Olympics and the Japan-Korea World Cup for soccer. I have been involved in the sale of official goods at sports competitions.
His wife feels that he lacks the crowd and excitement compared to the atmosphere just before the international competitions held in Japan in the past.
His wife said, "I feel that I am influenced by Corona to some extent. Sometimes customers who come to the store cheer us on, saying,'Do your best.'"
On the other hand, from the experience so far, when the tournament starts and Japanese players win gold medals, more people will buy commemorative medals that can be engraved with their names and dates. The needs for goods also tend to change. I think there are various opinions about holding the tournament, but I hope that as many people as possible can come into contact with the products. "