Tokyo Olympics: No talking during meals – what Hong Kong athletes can expect of their stay during the coronavirus pandemic
- Rowing coach Chris Perry says it’s ‘miserable’ and ‘like a prison’ but praises Japanese organisers for maintaining a high standard of safety
- The ongoing Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifiers is also a test event and is being held in the venue for the Tokyo Games
Tracking apps, hotel room confinement, no talking during meals and plenty of waiting around – it will be an Olympics like no other for Hong Kong athletes at the Tokyo Games if the rowing test event is anything to go by.
The six-strong rowing team are in Japan taking part in the 2021 Asia-Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta, which also serves as a dress rehearsal at the Olympic venue on Tokyo Bay for the Games’ rowing events.
With Japan experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, organisers are taking no chances and are strictly implementing the playbooks devised by the International Olympic Committee to ensure a watertight safety bubble for competitions.
“It’s a bit like a prison, it’s not a lot of fun, obviously,” said Hong Kong head rowing coach Chris Perry. “It’s a little bit miserable, even in the hotel the coaches and physio cannot go to the athletes’ rooms and they cannot see us, so we can’t interact with our own team.
“But I have to give the organisers a lot of credit. The standards are very high and they have been incredibly kind and polite as you would expect from a visit to Japan. They have done their best.