{"id":13305,"date":"2020-08-24T19:28:36","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/kenya\/?p=13305"},"modified":"2020-08-24T19:28:36","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:28:36","slug":"olympics-countdown-japan-athletes-give-tokyo-olympic-stadium-a-test-run-ahead-of-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/olympics-countdown-japan-athletes-give-tokyo-olympic-stadium-a-test-run-ahead-of-games","title":{"rendered":"Olympics countdown: Japan athletes give Tokyo Olympic stadium a test run ahead of Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

AfricaPress-Kenya:<\/strong> Japan’s top athletes put the new Tokyo Olympic stadium through its paces at a track meet yesterday, one year ahead of the Games which have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

The televised competition was held behind closed doors, with only athletes and a few hundred journalists and officials in attendance at the 60,000-seat facility, which is still undergoing construction work on its exterior.<\/p>\n

High jumpers got the Golden Grand Prix 2020 meet underway as up-tempo music and the lively voices of stadium announcers filled the air.<\/p>\n

The jumpers however had no spectators to ask for slow hand claps to find their rhythm as they sped down the runway.<\/p>\n

Sprinters likewise rushed to the finish line but there were no cheers of excited fans and no collective sighs greeted the failed jumps of the pole vaulters.<\/p>\n

A handful of male javelin throwers took matters into their own hands and offered slow claps in unison for each other as they took their turns.<\/p>\n

“It’s great to be back at my place of work,” javelin throw winner Genki Dean told reporters. “It’s so fun to compete.”<\/p>\n

The event was held as Japan takes cautious steps to reopen its economy, with professional baseball, football and sumo resuming in front of limited number of fans.<\/p>\n

But the nation is also seeing a rebound in new infection figures, particularly in urban areas including Tokyo and Osaka.<\/p>\n

Japanese Olympic organisers have said the Games will take place from July to August next year but have yet to decide details, including how many spectators to allow.<\/p>\n

Many athletes voiced frustration about the postponing of the Olympics and the difficulty training during the pandemic, which closed many tracks and prevented group practices.<\/p>\n

“I am turning 32 years old and, when thinking about my age, I was very, very disappointed (by the delay),” said Yukari Ishizawa, who was second in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AfricaPress-Kenya: Japan’s top athletes put the new Tokyo Olympic stadium through its paces at a track meet yesterday, one year ahead of the Games which have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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