Tokyo Test Events Back on Tap

(ATR) Simplified test events are set to resume next week integrating COVID-19 countermeasures as outlined in Tokyo 2020 playbooks.

The third wave of Tokyo 2020 test events will begin with two days of wheelchair rugby, April 3-4, among a total of 17 sports and a marathon test run in Sapporo. Fourteen of the test events will be organized by Tokyo officials, while another four will be staged by international and national federations.

Additional emphasis will be placed on an Athletics competition at Tokyo National Stadium, on May 9, incorporating overseas athletes and Japanese spectators. The marathon test event in Sapporo in mid-April, a diving event run by FINA on April 8, in addition to water polo and artistic swimming are also under consideration to move forward with foreign athletes.

"We have the playbook and we focus on athletes, how to proceed with the events we are discussing and consulting with the IFs, per sport, per event and what we have to be careful about," said Tokyo 2020 Games delivery officer Nakamura Hidemasa, at a Monday press briefing. "Regardless of the costs, we have to make sure that we learn from the test events.

"We have limited events with spectators, we cannot do this in every sport," he said. "With Athletics in the Olympic Stadium, we will have to make sure we learn ‘know how’ to apply to the other events."

"In June, we will finalize the playbooks, so of course we would like to include what was learned from the test events."

Mori Yasuo, Tokyo 2020 deputy executive director of Games operations, said that further clarification regarding border controls for athletes is still being worked out with government officials.

"There are various constraints from the central government when it comes to foreign people entering Japan from overseas, so we will continue to discuss what we will do regarding inviting overseas athletes," Mori said. "For now, the Athletics competition is the only one."

Mori also noted that new Olympic sports BMX freestyle, 3x3 basketball and skateboarding are of the "highest priority". The temporary overlays at the Ariake Urban Sports Park venue will also receive close attention.

At the ‘Ready, Steady, Tokyo’ test events as they’re branded, there will be some semblance of media access, press rooms and Wi-Fi to be included. Medical and anti-doping protocols will also be incorporated onsite.

Minimal physical contact and hygiene management will be top priorities along with shouting and cheering being discouraged. Masks will be required outside of the field of play.

While the Olympic Villages will not yet be inhabited, athletes and team staff will be housed at "safe and secure" hotels in close proximity to the competition venues.

Tokyo 2020 organizers are also carrying out operational tests over the upcoming months.

Mori informed that volunteers will also be present at the competition events, although he said numbers are still to be determined.

Nakamura responded to a question about how COVID cases on the rise in Tokyo and the possibility of another state of emergency imposed by government could affect scheduled test events.

"We have to look at what is going on in entire Japan and also more carefully, we have to look into each of the municipalities and what they will do, so this is like two sides of the coin just as we will do with the Torch Relay," he said.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

For general comments or questions,click here.

Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.