ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 SPORTS 15 As Games approach, virus worries rise in Japan Tokyo Olympics shaping up as TV-only event with few fans TOKYO, July 6, (AP): The pandemic- could apply to events that take place based on no spectators,” he said. the IOC was vehemently opposed by delayed Tokyo Olympics are shaping after 9 p.m. and to larger venues where Mori, a former prime minister, was Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. up as a TV-only event with few specta- 50% of capacity exceeds 5,000. forced to step down five months ago as “It is unfortunate for those who had tors - if any - being allowed when they VIPS, sponsors and others digni- president of the organizing committee, hoped to watch the world’s top athletes open in just over two weeks. taries will be allowed to attend the after he was criticized for making “in- up close here in Sapporo and cheer Japan’s Asahi newspaper, citing opening ceremony and other venues, appropriate” comments about women. them,” Hokkaido Governor Naomichi multiple unidentified government but the newspaper said these numbers About 11,000 Olympic athletes and Suzuki said. sources, said Tuesday the opening cer- could also be reduced. The newspaper The government is also expected emony at the 68,000-seat National Sta- said this “special category” was about this week to extend quasi-state of dium is likely to be limited to only VIP 10,000 people. OLYMPICS emergency measures in Tokyo, which guests. The Olympics open in 17 days. Organizing committee chief execu- end on Sunday. The newspaper said other large ven- tive Toshiro Muto said two weeks ago 4,400 Paralympians will be entering The Tokyo Metropolitan Government ues are likely to have no spectators. that VIPs would be allowed into ven- Tokyo, along with tens of thousands of reported 593 new coronavirus cases on Smaller venues are expected to allow ues - over and above any spectator cap coaches, administrators, broadcasters, Tuesday, the 17th straight day that cases some spectators. - and were classified as “organizers” and media. were higher than they were a week ear- Tokyo organizers and the Interna- and not spectators. The decision on spectators could lier. On Saturday, the capital reported tional Olympic Committee are ex- “There are many stakeholders of the come on the same day, Thursday, that 716 new cases, the highest in five weeks. pected to announce the policy after a IOC and so forth. People related to key IOC President Thomas Bach arrives in The Tokyo government also con- meeting likely on Thursday. clients. And for those people they are Tokyo. Bach is to self-isolate for three firmed on Tuesday that it will take the Two weeks ago, they announced regarded as organizers of the games and days in a five-star Tokyo hotel. Olympic torch relay off the streets for that venues could be filled up to 50% In this July 7, 2021 photo, people wearing face masks ride an escalator they are not spectators,” Muto said. The Tokyo organizing committee all legs in the capital. Those legs were to capacity with a ceiling of 10,000. But with banners to promote the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to open on July Yoshiro Mori, the former president also announced on Tuesday that it will begin on Friday. The exception is events surging virus numbers in Tokyo are 23, in Tokyo. (AP) of the organizing committee, in an in- not allow any roadside viewing of the on small islands off the Tokyo mainland. forcing a rollback. terview with Japanese television TBS, race walks or marathons in the north- The relay has repeatedly been re- The IOC earns almost 75% of its Fans from abroad were banned Olympics would be with no spectators. said he suggested an Olympics without ern city of Sapporo. The events were scheduled, rerouted, and sequestered income from TV rights, and will still months ago. He also said it was “abnormal” to hold spectators to other politicians in the moved there two years ago because of in public parks away from the public generate $3 billion to $4 billion in in- Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government the Olympics during a pandemic. ruling Liberal Democratic Party. worries around Tokyo’s hot and humid since it began in March from north- come from a television-only event. medical adviser, has said the least risky Asahi said the no-spectators policy “I had said we should develop plans summers. The decision by Bach and eastern Japan. ‘Huge wake-up call’ Health big issue for swimming Barty wins Aussie battle to meet Tokyo-bound Campbell sisters SYDNEY, July 6, (AP): Cate Campbell swimsuit sponsor, Arena. “It’s getting to Kerber in Wimbledon semifinals got “a huge wake-up call” when she a point where I’m pretty good at manag- went in for a routine checkup and dis- ing it now. covered that she had skin cancer on her As for the injury details, Bronte says right arm. “it’s all pretty vague.” Younger sister Bronte Campbell “It was a neural thing with my neck deals with so many aching muscles, and my shoulder on the left. I also have bones and joints that she says “it feels a bad right hip and my back on the left like it’s every part of me.” side I’ve got some inflamed joints as Even before the coronavirus pandem- well. So it feels like it’s every part of ic, the Australian swimming siblings me. ... I’m just holding together.” have had their share of health concerns. Bronte’s rehab and prevention rou- None of that stopped them from qual- tine includes: yoga, breathing exercises, ifying for the Tokyo Olympics: Cate meditation, float tanks, acupuncture, in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and massages and Pilates just to name a few. Bronte in two relays. Both are also slat- “It takes almost as much time as my ed to compete on a heavily favored Dol- actual training does,” she said during an phins’ team aiming for a third straight altitude camp at the Thredbo ski resort gold in the 4x100 free relay - on the first in Australia in May. day of swimming finals July 25. No wonder Bronte has said this will Relays and medals quickly became likely be her final Olympics - even an afterthought three years ago, though, though she’s only 27. when Cate was diagnosed with a Stage With the 2024 Paris Games only three 1 melanoma. years away, the 29-year-old Cate could “I just went in for a routine skin check keep going. and the dermatologist just didn’t really “It’s a really exciting time to be in- like the look of one of the moles, which volved in swimming that there seems had been on my arm my whole life and to be a bit more buzz being generated globally and a few new ventures,” she SWIMMING said, referring to the professional In- ternational Swimming League and the prospect of a domestic swim league be- I hadn’t noticed any changes,” Cate said ing launched in Australia. during a video interview with The As- “I’ve also spoken to quite a few sociated Press. swimmers and they tell me that you’re a The mole had to be removed, as well long time retired,” Cate added. as some surrounding tissue, leaving a Both sisters share the same sentiment nasty scar on her biceps. about going to Tokyo, where polls have “Fortunately that was it for me,” Cate showed that the majority of Japanese are said “Got all the cancer cells and I was against holding the games amid the pan- in the clear. If you can catch it early demic and a slow vaccine rollout. it’s very, very treatable - like myself. “I don’t want the games, which are But if you leave it untreated, it can have my personal dreams, to be upsetting a some really serious consequences.” whole lot of other people,” Bronte said. Cate now uses her Instagram account “So it does sort of take the shine off it to promote skin care and sun protection. a little bit, because you really want ev- Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova plays a return to Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic on day eight of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. (Inset): Aus- “It could potentially save someone’s eryone to be on board with it, and for it tralia’s Ashleigh Barty celebrates after defeating compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic during the women’s singles quarterfinals match in London, on July 6. (AP) life,” she said. “Power of social media, to be a celebration of sport and a joyous right?” affair. I understand where they’re com- Both Campbells are among Austra- ing from as a city and what they’ve been Pliskova, Sabalenka advance lia’s most well-known athletes, with through for the last year. So I really em- each winning titles in the 100 free - pathize with them.” Australian GPrix Formula 1 swimming’s signature event - at back- In the future, both sisters would like ranked Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3 in to-back world championships: Cate in to be involved in organizing the 2032 WIMBLEDON, England, July 6, (AP): When Angelique the first all-Australian major quarterfi- race canceled in November 2013 and Bronte in 2015. Olympics in Brisbane. nal in 40 years. Bronte improved on Cate’s perfor- “There’s a pretty good like retirement Kerber grabbed the opening “It’s the ultimate test,” Barty said, mance by sweeping gold in the 50 and the runway being prepared for me with the set of her Wimbledon quar- looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup.