Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Japan beat Australia in softball as Games begin in near silence
- Hosts win 8-1 at fan-less stadium in Fukushima, getting Covid-19-delayed Games under way
- Growing concerns over pandemic after positives in athletes’ village and Japanese summer heat ahead of opening ceremony
However, the win in Fukushima was played in front of no fans and Japan’s dominance was greeted only by polite applause from Olympics staff and the cheers of teammates.
A lack of spectators is just one of the Covid-19 measures put in place to ensure that the Games go ahead in the face of growing opposition and rising cases.
The game ended after five innings because of the mercy rule, with Japan’s two-run homer at the top of the inning putting them in an unassailable lead.
While many athletes are struggling to get into Japan, are isolating in the Olympic Village or have had to cancel their Olympic plans at the last minute, Australia’s softball players were among the first to travel, arriving over a month ago.
The Aussie Spirit took a 1-0 lead before Japan’s comeback in temperatures that hit 30 degrees Celsius midgame, despite the game starting at 9am. Aside from concerns over Covid-19 there is also the fear that this might be the hottest Games on record.
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Later on in the first day of action there will be more softball and the beginning of the women’s football tournament. Softball will move from Fukushima – just 65 kilometres from the 2011 nuclear accident – to Yokohama after the second day of competition.
While the Games is now under way, there was a threat that they could still be cancelled. Toshiro Muto, the head of the Tokyo organising committee, refused to rule the possibility out on Tuesday after another spike in cases.
