TOKYO, Jan 28, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The first Tokyo Olympics test event of 2021
has been postponed because of travel restrictions under Japan’s coronavirus
state of emergency, organisers confirmed Thursday.
The artistic swimming event will double as the sport’s final qualifier for
the virus-postponed Games. It was due to be held on March 4-7 in Tokyo but
will now take place two months later.
Tokyo 2020 organisers said a decision to delay it had been taken for
reasons including “ensuring the fairest possible conditions for athletes to
participate” and ongoing entry restrictions in Japan.
The qualifier has now been rescheduled for May 1-4 at the Tokyo Aquatics
Centre.
Tokyo 2020 said other qualifying events in Japan, including the Diving
World Cup in April and marathon swimming in May, would go ahead as planned.
Japan’s borders are currently closed to almost all foreigners, with Tokyo
and other parts of the country under a state of emergency until at least
February 7.
Athletes coming to Japan to prepare for the coronavirus-postponed 2020
Games had been exempt from the entry ban, but the government revoked the
privilege earlier this month.
The artistic swimming event was to have been the first test event to be
held with anti-virus measures in place.
In December, Tokyo 2020 chiefs unveiled a 53-page anti-virus rulebook that
they say will allow the Games to be held safely without a vaccine, even if
the pandemic is not yet under control.
But public support for holding the Games this year is low, with 80 percent
of Japanese polled backing a further delay or outright cancellation.