Courtesy-CNN Sports
On Tuesday, the Australian softball team became the first athletes to arrive in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, marking a significant milestone for the pandemic-affected Games, which remain dogged by controversy.
The “Aussie Spirit” team, together with their support crew, landed at Narita Airport outside of Tokyo and were promptly whisked away for coronavirus testing. They were welcomed by greeters wearing headgear emblazoned with Olympic and Paralympic mascots while wearing facemasks with green and gold outfits. They waved to photographers and took pictures as they filled out papers before taking the test.
Everyone in the delegation has been vaccinated, but they will be subjected to testing before departure and upon arrival, as well as tight limitations throughout their stay. The arrival will provide a boost to organizers who have been dealing with continuous public resistance and uncertainties about whether the Games can or should take place.
Much of Japan, including Tokyo, is under a state of viral emergency, and surveys suggest that the majority of Japanese people want the Games to be postponed or cancelled entirely. However, organizers claim that strict virus rulebooks will keep participants and the general public safe, and that around 80% of individuals in the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.
Australia’s softball team said they were ready for the new regulations and glad to be back on the field after the pandemic. Softball will not be played in Paris in 2024, thus for some, Tokyo 2020 may be their only chance at Olympic success.