Organisers unveil Olympic Village a month before Games begin in Tokyo

The village can sleep 18,000 athletes and team members during the Olympics and 8,000 during the Paralympics

Organisers are mulling having 20,000 spectators in the opening ceremony, according to sources, even as they try to build confidence that the Games will be safe

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A journalist looks at cardboard beds at the Olympic Village in Tokyo on June 20, 2021. Photo: AP

Published: 2:58pm, 20 Jun 2021Updated: 4:33pm, 21 Jun 2021

The organisers of the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday threw open the doors of the Olympic Village to the media, showcasing virus upgrades including a fever clinic just over a month before the Games begin.

Organisers are in the home stretch of preparations before the July 23 opening ceremony, and are trying to build confidence that the mega-event will be safe for athletes and the Japanese public.

As they unveiled the dedicated virus clinic, they warned that drinking in groups would be prohibited and said a mixed zone for guests had been scrapped.

Olympians will also not be given condoms during their stay at the athletes’ village as part of anti-coronavirus measures, the Games’ organising committee said. The athletes will instead receive them upon their departure.

The distribution of condoms has been a tradition during the major sporting event since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the committee said.

The village, which can sleep 18,000 athletes and team members during the Olympics and 8,000 during the Paralympics, has many warning posters that caution residents to take antivirus measures including room ventilation.

A replica of an athlete’s room is displayed at the village plaza. Photo: Reuters

The fever clinic, separate from the main medical facility, will be used to test and isolate people suspected of virus infection or considered close contacts of those who test positive.