Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Athletics

      Tokyo Olympics chiefs want athletes to get vaccinated against coronavirus as priority to make sure games go ahead

      by

      INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee member Dick Pound has called for athletes competing in this year’s Tokyo games to be given early access to the coronavirus vaccine.
      The event was postponed by 12 months due to the pandemic, although there are growing concerns it could be delayed again due to a sharp increase in Covid cases in Japan.

      The 2020 Olympic Games will take place in Tokyo from July 23 until August 8Credit: AFP

      Dick Pound wants all athletes set to compete at the Olympic Games to be vaccinated as soon as possible Credit: christinne muschi

      And Pound reckons the best way for the Games – which are scheduled to get underway in July – to go ahead is for all participants to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
      The Canadian told Sky News: “In Canada where we might have 300 or 400 athletes – to take 300 or 400 vaccines out of several million in order to have Canada represented at an international event of this stature, character and level – I don’t think there would be any kind of a public outcry about that.
      “It’s a decision for each country to make and there will be people saying they are jumping the queue but I think that is the most realistic way of it going ahead.”
      Pound’s call for athletes to be immunised comes just a few weeks after IOC president Thomas Bach insisted athletes won’t be forced to take the vaccine.

      He said: “There are too many issues to consider. This is a question of private health.
      “It is a question also of (the) health conditions of each and every person. It’s a question of availability.”
      FANCY A PUNT? TODAY’S BEST ODDS BOOSTS FROM THE UK’S LEADING BOOKIES

      British Olympic Association chief Andy Anson insists British athletes will only be given the vaccine when it’s appropriate for them to receive it.

      He told Sky: “They won’t get priority access now because I think everyone – athletes included – would agree that the priority is the people who need it most; the frontline workers, the elderly, those with health issues and that’s the first wave of vaccination.
      ‘There will come a time, hopefully in late spring/summer ahead of the Olympic Games when the athletes can be vaccinated.

      “But we’ll do that when it’s appropriate and when the government feels it’s appropriate.
      “We will encourage athletes that whenever possible they have the vaccination because it is better for their health, and it is also a demonstration of solidarity with their fellow athletes and also the Japanese people.”
      Although Japan has experienced a steep rise in Covid cases, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is confident the rescheduled games will go ahead as planned.
      He said: “This summer, we will hold the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are a symbol of world unity.
      “We will make steady preparations to realise a safe and secure event.”

      Olympic flame arrives in Japan to quiet ceremony More

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Athletics

      Seb Coe advises British Golden Girls to ring Jessica Ennis-Hill before Tokyo Olympics

      by

      SEB COE has the perfect advice for Britain’s Golden Girls before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics: Go and talk to Jessica Ennis-Hill.
      Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and all-rounder Katarina Johnson-Thompson will have the weight of the country on their shoulders when they get to Japan this July.

      Jessica Ennis-Hill coped with the pressure of the London 2012 Olympics to win heptathlon goldCredit: Reuters

      The pair are reigning world champions in the 200m and heptathlon respectively and will be expected to achieve glory in the Japanese capital.
      Only NINE women have won gold for Britain in track-and-field since the Tokyo 1964 Games.
      One of those is the now retired Ennis-Hill, 34, who delivered heptathlon gold eight years ago when she was the poster-girl of the London 2012 Olympics.
      And Coe, a two-time 1500m Olympic champion, reckons the Sheffield star knows better than anyone had to deal with pressure.

      Coe, 64, said: “The one person that I would advise them probably to go and talk to –and I’m sure she would be amenable to it because she’s that type of person – is Jessica Ennis-Hill.
      “She went through London 2012 as the poster child and in seasons in advance, the World Championships, she produced terrific performances.

      Ennis-Hill, pictured with Coe and then London mayor Boris Johnson, was a woman in demand in 2012Credit: Graham Hughes – The Times
      “She probably would give insights of a more topical nature than I’m able to give.
      “You know I’m probably throwing her a bit of a curveball here.

      “But anytime spent talking to her just about what it was like to have to withstand that expectation.
      “I honestly do not think there was anybody in the Games in London that probably had more expectation and pressure sitting on their shoulders.
      “What she really was very clear about is that she did not leave her coaching environment.
      “She didn’t play around with variables. She stuck to the same system, the same city, the same training venues, and she kept it about as normal as she possibly could.

      Ennis-Hill, now retired from athletics, is a mum of twoCredit: Reuters
      “That’s not always easy in an Olympic year but I think she wasn’t just perfect in her competitions.
      “I think her build-up, given the enormity of the pressure on her, was probably textbook.”
      Britain won four athletic gold medals at the London Games and then two at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
      Over the past four years the sport has lost some of its allure in the eyes of the British public.
      There were no big events in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the governing body in this country has seen big changes with a new head coach (Christian Malcolm) and CEO (Jo Coates).
      Even though he is the head of World Athletics, Coe plays an active role with the young British squad, often speaking on the telephone and Zoom with the emerging talents.
      Coe said: “There is a fantastic crop of young athletes coming through.
      “For many years I have often sat and chatted to the middle-distance athletes, male and female, that have come through.

      Dina Asher-Smith stunned the world of sprinting in 2019 when she won the 200m world titleCredit: PA:Press Association
      “I’ve had similar conversations with Laura Muir, Jake Wightman, who I speak to a lot.
      “I had a long conversation with Daniel Rowden the other day.
      “I’m actually comforted now that from the discussions I’m having with these athletes, that this current crop really do understand, probably more than earlier generations exactly what it takes in order to get to the highest level.
      “We’ve got a really powerful cohort of young athletes coming through.
      “And that’s got to be good commercially, that’s got to be good Box Office for us.”

      Katarina Johnson-Thompson was crowned world heptathlon champion in Doha in 2019Credit: PA:Press Association More

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Athletics

      Team GB Olympic hopefuls told they CAN have coronavirus vaccine over fears it could contribute to failed drug tests

      by

      BRITISH Tokyo Olympic hopefuls have been reassured they CAN take the Covid-19 vaccine without danger of it contributing to failed doping tests.
      UK anti-doping chiefs admitted last week that they were unable to be certain if there was a risk of the vaccine bringing positive test results.

      Team GB Olympic hopefuls have been reassured they can take the Covid-19 vaccine before the the GamesCredit: EPA

      But world bosses have now confirmed the vaccine does not contain any prescribed substances.
      UKAD’s Head of Science and Medicine, Nick Wojek said: “We welcome the statement made by WADA regarding their position on COVID-19 vaccines. 
      “UK athletes should feel confident that they will not be in breach of the World Anti-Doping Code if they receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
      “The health and wellbeing of athletes is of primary importance to us and we understand the deployment of new vaccines will raise questions from athletes. 

      “We will continue to liaise with WADA so that athletes continue to receive the assurances they need about the anti-doping status of new vaccines as they are approved for use.”
      Meanwhile, chiefs are confident fans will be able to attend the Games in Tokyo under plans to vaccinate spectators and athletes upon their arrival in Japan.
      International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said recently: “In order to protect the Japanese people, and out of respect for the Japanese people, the IOC will undertake great effort so that Olympic participants and visitors will arrive here vaccinated if, by then, a vaccine is available.”
      The 2020 Summer Olympics were originally due to start last July.

      But they were postponed for a year due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
      It had been claimed the Olympics would not go ahead without a vaccine.
      Should that scenario unfold, it would be only the fourth time in modern history that the event would have been cancelled
      The other three times were called off due to the two World Wars, in 1916, 1940 and 1944.

      Paris 2024 Olympics to feature BREAKDANCING in bid to appeal to younger audience More

    • 163 Shares159 Views

      in Athletics

      Paris 2024 Olympics to feature BREAKDANCING in bid to appeal to younger audience

      by

      THE 2024 Paris Olympics will feature breakdancing in attempt to attract a younger audience. The move was confirmed on Monday by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. As well as breakdancing, fans will also be able to watch surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing. But those three will make their debuts at the Tokyo Games first. […] More

    • 213 Shares189 Views

      in Athletics

      Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto charged with having sex with a minor and faces 20 years in jail

      by

      OLYMPIC gold medallist Conseslus Kipruto has been charged with having sex with a minor in Kenya.
      Appearing in court on Monday, the 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to a charge of ‘defilement’.

      Conseslus Kipruto won steeplechase gold at the 2016 Rio OlympicsCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Kenyan sexual offence laws mean Kipruto is facing a jail sentence of up to 20 years.
      Local law defines a minor as anyone under the age of 18, with this potential term high because the girl involved in the allegations is 15.
      The charge sheet, as reported by Associated Press, states that Kipruto had sex with the girl on October 20 and 21.
      The steeplechase champion was arrested on November 11 and his case will reportedly be heard in May.

      A courthouse in the Great Rift Valley town of Kapsabet, a region of Kenya famous for its distance runners, heard Kipruto make his not guilty plea this week.
      He was granted a bail for a cash sum worth roughly £1,360.
      Police officers reportedly attempted to prevent photographers from taking pictures of Kipruto as he arrived in court, wearing a red sweatshirt with hood and coronavirus mask to cover his face.
      The Kenyan’s trial is expected to come just weeks before the Tokyo Olympics.

      Kipruto, who also works as a police officer, shot to fame with victory in the 2000-metre steeplechase in the 2011 World Youth Championships.
      In 2016, he won the 3000m steeplechase at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics before winning gold at both the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.
      He was forced to withdraw from a Diamond League meeting in Monaco earlier this year while suffering from coronavirus.

      Olympics postponed as Tokyo 2020 is latest sporting event crushed by coronavirus and pushed back until 2021 More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Athletics

      Tokyo Olympics WILL have fans and family in attendance… if they have had coronavirus vaccine, says chief

      by

      OLYMPICS chief Thomas Bach believes fans and families WILL be allowed to attend next summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
      But the International Olympic Committee President expects athletes and spectators alike will need to have proof they have received a Covid-19 vaccine first.

      Bach is confident fans and families will be allowed to attend the Tokyo Olympics next yearCredit: EPA

      Bach was in Tokyo for the first time since the Games were postponed for 12 months in March.
      The IOC boss was confronted by anti-Games protesters but gave a vow the Olympics and Paralympics will go ahead.
      The IOC chief said he hopes that a “reasonable number” of spectators from Japan and the rest of the world will be able to witness the Games in person when they start on July 23.
      He said: “In order to protect the Japanese people and out of respect for the Japanese people, the IOC will undertake great effort so that as many people as possible – Olympic participants and visitors – will arrive here with a vaccine, if by then one is available,

      “We want to convince as many foreign participants as possible to accept a vaccine.
      “This makes us all very confident that we can have spectators in the stadia next year and that they will enjoy a safe environment.”
      Bach’s comments came on the day the outcome of the Moderna vaccine trials with 94 per cent efficiency were announced.
      The German insisted that Olympic competitors should not be placed ahead of “nurses and doctors and people who keep our society alive” in the vaccine queue.

      But he said the Olympic movement should be prepared to pay for some vaccinations of competitors.
      Bach added: “If after the health workers, a vaccine is available, the IOC would bear the cost so that participants can be offered a vaccine.”
      If fans are allowed to attend, they may be banned from cheering and speaking loudly in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus.
      The Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto has refused to rule out the possibility of silencing crowds.
      Speaking to reporters he said: “There’s a possibility that we may ask the spectators to refrain from shouting and speaking in a loud voice.
      “When we think of the impact, we believe it is an item for consideration, to reduce the risk of airborne droplets.
      “But we haven’t reached a conclusion.”

      Floyd Mayweather says he’s coming back to Japan for ‘something big; at Tokyo Dome in 2021 More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Athletics

      Fans at Tokyo Olympics 2020 set to be banned from cheering or ‘talking in a loud voice’, reveals chief

      by

      SPECTATORS at next summer’s Olympics in Tokyo may be told to keep quiet for fear of spreading coronavirus.
      Some evidence suggests the pandemic can be spread by shouting or talking in crowded spaces, an area of concern for sports welcoming rowdy fans back to stadiums.

      Socially distanced fans at a Japanese football game clap their team during a matchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Measures are being put in place for the eventual start of the delayed Olympics, with July 2021 earmarked.
      And Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto has refused to rule out the possibility of silencing crowds.
      He told reporters: “There’s a possibility that we may ask the spectators to refrain from shouting and speaking in a loud voice.
      “When we think of the impact, we believe it is an item for consideration, to reduce the risk of airborne droplets.

      “But we haven’t reached a conclusion.”
      Crowds have steadily returned to sporting events around the world although a second wave in Europe has ended pilot schemes in countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

      The potential for a vaccine or mass-testing to be in place by the summer will be seen as cause for optimism for the Olympics.
      But Tokyo organisers are not promising a return to normal for the Games, with fans arriving from abroad potentially having to quarantine before entering stadiums.

      In addition, thousands of seats may go unsold to enforce social distancing despite the financial strain surrounding Tokyo’s Olympics.
      Muto added: “Regarding spectators from overseas, whether they need to go through a 14-day quarantine or not, whether we can waive that or not will depend on the situation.

      Whether we are going to have full capacity or not, the decision has not been made yet.
      Toshiro Muto

      “There is a possibility this quarantine is waived if they meet certain conditions.
      “The spectators’ anxiety of not knowing if they can actually go to the games or not is understandable.
      “We would like to be considerate of the spectators as much as possible while we take preventive measures at the same time to be able to accommodate as many spectators as possible.
      “Whether we are going to have full capacity or not, the decision has not been made yet because various experiments are taking place.”

      Olympics postponed as Tokyo 2020 is latest sporting event crushed by coronavirus and pushed back until 2021 More

    • 175 Shares189 Views

      in Athletics

      Jade Jones reveals Olympic village secrets from drunk shenanigans to late-night Usain Bolt parties

      by

      JADE JONES says the Olympic village is full of drunks and late-night shenanigans – and she once refused to join a wild Usain Bolt room party.
      In a revealing interview with SPORTbible, the two-time Olympic gold medal-winning taekwondo star gave an insight into what goes on behind-the-scenes at the biggest event in sport.

      Jade Jones has spilled the beans on what happens at the Olympic villageCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Jones turned down an invite to a late-night Usain Bolt partyCredit: EPA

      It seems everyone lets their hair down at some point, particularly Jamaican sprint superstar Bolt, who was in celebratory mood having scooped three gold medals.
      Though she did not specify whether it was the London 2012 or Rio 2016 Games, the Welshwoman said that everyone hits the booze as soon as their competitions are over.
      Of course, one thing usually leads to another when alcohol is consumed – and it is thought the IOC distributed 350,000 condoms, 100,000 female condoms and 175,000 packets of lube to more than 10,000 stars four years ago in Brazil.
      Jones, 27, said: “Everyone sees the Olympics all about performance and it is. But literally it’s a big party after and everyone gets drunk.

      “Everyone fights and competes on different days. I remember walking to the ring and walking to my event and literally there’s people coming in steaming, like falling over.
      “It’s so hard as you have to stay focused and not let that distract you.
      “Another time I remember I was coming back from dinner, and Usain Bolt was shouting people up to his room to come and have a party. I think it was his birthday. I didn’t go by the way.”
      Flint fighter Jones credits her ‘strict’ granddad for introducing her to Taekwondo at the age of eight to curb her wild ways.

      Legendary athlete Bolt is also famous for his party-loving anticsCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Jones said: “I was starting to be a bit naughty and cheeky and going off on the wrong path.
      “My granddad was very strict, very proper. He wanted me to go into a martial art and go in the right direction. Ever since then I have loved it.
      “I don’t think I’ve said this before but when I was ten I got caught smoking. I think I was the first ever person in primary school to get caught smoking.”
      Jones claims she would follow former Team GB boxer Nicola Adams on to reality TV in retirement but has ruled out an appearance on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
      She added: “It’s amazing what Nicola is doing. The first same-sex partnership. She has made so much history. Now she is continuing to make history.
      “Yeah, I’d love to do it, but I think I’d be better on Dancing On Ice. I prefer the more dangerous ones because I cannot dance at all.”

      Usain Bolt announces he is self isolating after taking coronavirus test but insists he has ‘no symptoms’ More