The Tokyo Olympics are getting closer and things are starting to stir around the venues, though not as much as you might expect. Many preparations are still up in the air as organisers try to figure out how to hold the postponed games in the middle of a pandemic.
Much of the city will be watching Wednesday as the countdown clocks around town hit the 100-days-to-go mark.
![Workers prepare the venue at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Tokyo. (Photo via AP)]()
Workers prepare the venue at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Tokyo. (Photo via AP)
The new national stadium in the heart of Tokyo exemplifies the state of preparations. Kengo Kuma’s $1.4 billion venue is still largely sealed off to outsiders by a white wall that circles the stadium.
Over the weekend, passersby could hear rumblings from inside the venue — possible practice for the opening ceremony on July 23. The Paralympics follow on August 24.
![People walk past Ariake Colosseum, a venue planned to be used for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
People walk past Ariake Colosseum, a venue planned to be used for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)
There is little movement around the Athletes’ Village, located near Tokyo Bay. The village will be tightly controlled during the Olympics, operating largely as a bubble for 11,000 Olympic athletes and 4.400 Paralympic athletes.
Athletes will be told not to socialise, to refrain for any tourism, and to come late and leave early to reduce the risks of spreading the virus.
The new aquatic centre, also near Tokyo Bay, just finished holding Japan’s national swimming championships. It’s already had a test run and has yielded a big story.
![A guard stands in front of a fence to close off a construction site for the athletes' village to be used during the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo, Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
A guard stands in front of a fence to close off a construction site for the athletes' village to be used during the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo, Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)
Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee, a 20-year-old survivor of leukemia, finished first in four races and qualified for the Olympics.
She was one of the world’s best swimmers until she was diagnosed two years ago with leukemia. She had said her plans were to aim for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her performances have surprised almost everyone.
Ikee is sure to be a big star in Tokyo — even if she fails to win a medal. She won six gold medals in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and was getting very close to breaking the world record in the 100-metre butterfly — her best event.
![People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus walk at Enoshima, the venue of sailing competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus walk at Enoshima, the venue of sailing competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Photo via AP)
![People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus ride bicycles near the Japan National Stadium, where opening ceremony and many other events are planned for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tokyo. (Photo via AP)]()
People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus ride bicycles near the Japan National Stadium, where opening ceremony and many other events are planned for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tokyo. (Photo via AP)
![People walk towards the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, also known as Tokyo Big Sight, in Tokyo, Thursday, April 8, 2021. The exhibition centre is a planned venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, rescheduled to start in July 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
People walk towards the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, also known as Tokyo Big Sight, in Tokyo, Thursday, April 8, 2021. The exhibition centre is a planned venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, rescheduled to start in July 2021. (Photo via AP)
![Construction workers fold a tarp sheet at a closed building complex being built as part of the athletes' village to be used during the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
Construction workers fold a tarp sheet at a closed building complex being built as part of the athletes' village to be used during the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)
![A man enjoys a paddleboard at Enoshima, the venue of sailing competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
A man enjoys a paddleboard at Enoshima, the venue of sailing competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Photo via AP)
![Tokyo Aquatics Centre, where swim trials were being held for Japan's Olympic team, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. The aquatics centre is also a planned venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, rescheduled to start in July 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
Tokyo Aquatics Centre, where swim trials were being held for Japan's Olympic team, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. The aquatics centre is also a planned venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, rescheduled to start in July 2021. (Photo via AP)
![People walk under a banner promoting the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)]()
People walk under a banner promoting the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, in Tokyo Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo via AP)
![Construction workers lift a steel beam into position at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, one of venues for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tokyo. (Photo via AP)]()
Construction workers lift a steel beam into position at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, one of venues for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tokyo. (Photo via AP)
Tokyo Olympics
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Paralympics
Athletes’ Village
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Paris
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Asian Games
Jakarta
Indonesia
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