This is Tokyo, this is sports and these are 5,389 spectators, something the 2020 Olympic Games can not even dream about

While Tokyo 2020 Olympic venues remain a ghost town with no fans permitted to attend events in the Japanese capital, non-Olympic sports are still subject to a different set of rules which meant that over 5,000 fans could attend a professional wrestling event at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

Four-time tennis Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka set the Olympic cauldron ablaze on Friday at the Olympic stadium and set social media on fire as a hugely popular choice for that distinction but could not share that historic moment with her fanbase and the Japanese people as no fans were allowed inside the new stadium.

Osaka took to the courts at the Ariake Tennis Park on Sunday to a somber backdrop of empty stands as she eased to victory over China’s Saisai Zheng.

Meanwhile just 13 kilometers away, at the Tokyo Dome, home to baseball outfit Yomiuri Giants, a professional wrestling event took place under the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) banner.

Dubbed ‘Wrestle Grand Slam’ fans descended upon the Tokyo Dome City area from around the country for the show which lasted six hours.

Around The Rings was reporting from Olympic events including judo and weightlifting on Sunday where no fans were permitted and missed out on special moments such as Japan’s Abe siblings winning gold medals just minutes apart at the Nippon Budokan.

The iconic Nippon Budokan, which also hosted the judo competition at Tokyo 1964, is just two kilometers away from the Tokyo Dome City but there was not one fan among its bare three tiers while 5,389 gathered to watch professional wrestling.

Non-Olympic sports such as baseball, football, mixed martial arts and pro wrestling are allowed to have fans in venues with some moderate COVID-19 restrictions such as a degree of social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer being used and temperatures being checked.

Fans have been gathering as close to Olympic venues as they can as they have been desperate to try catch a glimpse of the action and their idols in what for many would have been their only chance to witness a summer Olympics on home soil.

A four-day weekend in Japan, as Thursday and Friday were public holidays, led to a huge gathering of fans around the Olympic stadium as they warmly welcomed media but were left to rue what could have been.

“It’s sad for the country to be missing out on this once in a lifetime experience, especially when other events here are open to COVID-19 restricted rules,” Japan-based professional wrestler Hartley Jackson told Around The Rings.

“As a pro wrestler I am very lucky and I am very happy to work in front of live crowds for our events. Every fan has been respectful and mindful of all the COVID-19 related guidelines. It makes me work even harder knowing that this is the spectators chance to escape reality for just a few hours end enjoy pro wrestling right in front of their eyes,” added the Australian who wrestles for the Zero-1 organization in Japan.

“I was excited when Tokyo was announced to be hosting the games as I knew this would really be my one great opportunity to see it live as Tokyo is now my home. I am very interested in combat sports and weightlifting and would have definitely attended these events... in hopes of also being able to have a beer while watching too.”

Australian judoka Nathan Katz competed in the -66kg category on Sunday and conceded that it was a shame that friends and family members could not be in attendance but said that he was still able to savor his Olympic experience and a unique Games environment.

“I think the Olympic tension coupled with the significance of the arena and the incredibly high level of judo more than made up for the inability to sell it out to the public,” said Katz who won his opening contest before falling to Israel’s Baruch Shmailov who went on to finish fifth.

“It was an incredible experience. Obviously it’s a shame our friends and family weren’t able to attend and enjoy it with us but I’m very grateful to have been able to participate in such an extraordinary Games.”

Athletes such as judoka have inevitably been talking the subject of fans not being able to attend events in Tokyo as Katz eluded to.

“We were chatting about that today. It does seem to be a little bit political but in all honesty, the opportunity to compete and still live out the Olympic Games far outweighed the disappointment to not have a full arenas of fans.”

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