Japan pushes on with Olympic test events as public opposition mounts and IOC says Games should go ahead

Name: ‘Almost impossible’ to send doctors, nurses to Olympics, says Japanese medical association
Uploaded: 2021-05-17T09:18:11.000Z
Duration: 2 min 16 s
Description: ‘Almost impossible’ to send doctors, nurses to Olympics, says Japanese medical association

With 67 days to go, qualifying and test events are continuing – despite mounting public opposition and Japan’s ongoing wave of Covid-19 infections

A growing number of athletes are pulling out of the Games citing restrictions and risks. Even one of the government’s own advisers says he’s less optimistic

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Japanese cyclist Nene Naito at the Olympic Games’ Cycling BMX Freestyle test event on May 17, 2021 in Tokyo. Photo: AP

Julian Ryallin Tokyo

Published: 5:18pm, 17 May 2021Updated: 11:58pm, 20 May 2021

Preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games are going ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic, with athletics disciplines, skateboarding and basketball test events taking part in the last few days, and the city hosting additional dry runs of the BMX freestyle and shooting competitions on Monday.

With the Olympic countdown clock outside Tokyo Station ticking down to 67 days until the opening ceremony, the BMX test event is taking place at the Ariake Urban Sports Park, while the Asaka Shooting Range is hosting the other event.

More test events for the Games are due to take place in the coming days, including water polo and artistic swimming at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

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‘Almost impossible’ to send doctors, nurses to Olympics, says Japanese medical association

Events are being held under the “playbook” of safety measures for athletes and games officials released recently by the International Olympic Committee and the local organising committee.

The 30-page playbook calls on all those preparing for the Games to wear a mask at all times, other than when eating, drinking, sleeping, training or competing, to minimise their physical interactions with other people and practise social distancing, to “think hygiene” and to undergo frequent tests and be prepared to have their movements and contacts traced should an outbreak occur.

Field athletics events at the National Stadium on May 9 were used to fine-tune the countermeasures against Covid-19, with no spectators allowed into the stadium to watch 420 athletes, including nine from abroad, compete.