Thunderstorms, uncertain weather welcome athletes, journalists to Tokyo Olympics — Policemen walk past one of the entrances to the Olympic Village in Tokyo on July 13, 2021, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which begin on July 23. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

The air in Tokyo is hot, humid, sticky. The city is ready for the first Olympics in full pandemic with its usual sweltering summer climate.
It is no coincidence that in 1964, the Olympic Games was organised in October, but at that time it was not the TV contracts that dictated the dates of the Games.

Massive team arrivals into Tokyo began last week. The weather is uncertain, thunderstorms are expected every day in the afternoon and then the sun with 33 degrees, which will be perceived as the 43-degree census.

AIPS President, Gianni Merlo, narrates his experience on arrival in Tokyo.

“On arrival at the airport of Haneda, smaller and closer to the centre than Narita, was much more complicated than in previous Olympic editions. Before disembarking, employees of the organisation have asked to fill in a form on the plane, a quick but unexpected procedure. In this way, however, a traffic jam is avoided immediately.

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“At a station 200 meters further on, they have checked if the two apps have been downloaded, which help us to have information on health and organization and for them to know where we are at all times…

Number – An identification number was then given for the next saliva test. After a long walk, the result was collected at door 146. The process can last from 2 to 4 hours.

Risks – All reception staff are very kind, but most of them are headed by the government and therefore are very attentive to details in health declarations. Those who do not fill in the forms with precision, which mainly concern the tests required 96 and 72 hours before departure, risk not only long waits but also the possibility of being sent home. Attention, the 72 hours from the second and last test strictly required must coincide with the departure time of the plane. If it turns out that the test was done at 10.30 am and three days later the flight will depart at 11.20, then over 72 hours for 50 minutes delicate problems could arise, because the required limits would be exceeded and this could invalidate the process. So you have to pay close attention to this very important detail.

Efficient organization – To avoid direct contact with the population, the transport of all people connected to the Olympics is separated from public transport. The teams are taken directly to the village or headquarters where they have decided to complete the preparation, the journalists and technicians to the main terminal in the city and from there everyone is given a free voucher for a “safe” taxi that will take them to the hotel. Perfect coordination.

Those against – The percentage of Japanese against the Games is still high, but two days ago a demonstration in front of the hotel, which hosts Thomas Bach and the IOC, attracted few people. By now they know that the organizational machine can no longer be stopped, but they are unable to accept that the Government has sharpened the heavy restrictions, but not so heavy with respect to our lockdown. They smile at us, but they prefer not to talk about what they feel inside. They continue to be kind, even if adamant about the rules we must follow. We cannot blame them because, if they loosened their grip, it would then be difficult to manage the resulting discomfort. They are not used to improvisation and elasticity in the interpretation of the rules.

The pessimists – Then, to rage the morale of the doubters, Hirotada Hirose, a well-known expert of “disaster risk”, also intervened, declaring to the French press agency that the organizers of the Games should have taken into consideration the devastating danger of earthquakes and typhoons, which are common in this area of the world sitting on the Ring of Fire.

The reason – It is clear that such a statement raises some doubts even in the most unshakable optimist. But we must continue to think positively because these Games must also be a new experience on how to deal with the pandemic without having to give up everything. In Europe, too, there will probably be suffering again after the UEFA European Championships, but unfortunately, it is no longer possible to go back. It is necessary that everyone, even the deniers, understand that new rules of life must be followed, which do not undermine the true rights of individual freedom.

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Related topics: Athletes journalists Tokyo Olympics