On the penultimate day in Tokyo, a first walk through the city.

And what kind of city it is.

As an Olympic reporter, you could only have guessed the beauty in front of it through the window of the shuttle bus when it drove over the Rainbow Bridge again.

Now you are right in the middle.

In the city and in beauty.

Christopher Meltzer

Sports correspondent in Munich.

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This is possible because more than 14 days in the Olympic bladder with fever measurements (daily) and spitting test (at least every three days) were negative and thus - as always in this corona pandemic - positive.

And because the Japan correspondent kindly offered himself to be a city guide.

Hosts who were never allowed to be guests

On the walk (and later, to be honest, also the drive) from the press center to the city and then to the national stadium, the correspondent is always amazed at how few people walk through the streets.

Almost 14 million live in Tokyo.

Only four million less than in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state with the most inhabitants in Germany.

Everyone who is out this early evening is wearing masks.

They do this even though they wouldn't have to do it outdoors.

On the little discovery tour you only pass two places where Japanese people romp about.

At the Olympic flame and the Olympic rings.

Above all, it is the small square with the five rings that keeps reminding you of what the Olympic Games could have been in these days in Tokyo.

There the Japanese line up to be photographed with the rings and the very beautiful national stadium in the background.

A souvenir picture for these great hosts who were never allowed to be guests in their own stadium.

As an Olympic reporter you see these scenes because with your accreditation around your neck, the ID card of the privileged, you walk past them through the security gate into the stadium, separated from them by just one barrier. And when these friendly Japanese politely wave at you, you are surprisingly happy to wear a mask outdoors. At this moment, it not only protects against the virus. But also from your own shame.