"I shall not march in the (opening ceremony's) Parade of Nations under a flag steeped in my people's blood," said Myanmar's Win Htet Oo, who was supposed to make his Olympic debut as the country's lone swimmer. While nations across the globe are cheering for their players as they win medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, a few would remember the sacrifice Oo made after the Myanmar military seized power in a coup in February, earlier this year.&nbsp;

Amid the Tokyo Olympics frenzy and fanfare, it is heartbreaking to see a well-deserved athlete being absent due to political reasons. Win Htet Oo had qualified for the 50m freestyle swimming competition and is considered one of Myanmar's top swimmers. However, the 26-year-old abandoned his dreams of&nbsp;representing his country at the Olympics and said he was no longer interested in going to Tokyo in protest against Myanmar's junta.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-olympics-athletes-must-wear-masks-at-games-apart-from-podium-moment-400491" hreflang="en">Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Athletes 'must' wear masks at Games apart from podium moment</a>

While taking to Facebook, Oo wrote, "To accept the MOC (Myanmar Olympic Committee) as it is currently led is to recognise the legitimacy of a murderous regime. I shall not march in the (opening ceremony's) Parade of Nations under a flag steeped in my people's blood."

The swimmer had also said that after the February coup he knew he couldn't go to the Olympic Games. So, it was an easy decision to make, even after training for two decades for the chance to go to the Olympics. "I just couldn't bring myself to attend, if [the MOC] was being controlled by the military," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/Tokyo%20Olympics:%20Silver%20medallist%20Mirabai%20Chanu's%20special%20Olympic%20earrings%20stole%20the%20show">Tokyo Olympics: Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's special Olympic earrings stole the show</a>

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Myanmar in political turmoil ever since the 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was democratically elected as a civilian leader of Myanmar, was detained on February 1 in a coup d'état. The coup was carried out by Myanmar armed forces and Suu Kyi was slapped with a series of charges. Several other members of her political party, journalists and other prominent figures were also arrested. The coup ignited deadly protests across the country and hundreds of people have lost their lives. Besides protests and nationwide civil disobedience, the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to ravage as the situation remains dire in the county.&nbsp;

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-from-pv-sindhu-to-deepika-kumari-top-indian-athletes-to-look-out-for-400283">Tokyo Olympics 2020- From PV Sindhu to Deepika Kumari: Top Indian athletes to look out for!</a>&nbsp;

"I wanted to show Myanmar people that athletes can take part in the civil disobedience movement," he told AFP, speaking from Melbourne, Australia. "The image of me walking behind the flag in the Parade of Nations and smiling - pretending everything was all right - quite frankly disgusted me. It would be a propaganda exercise, some sort of way to tell the world that everything is fine in Myanmar," he added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
It is worth noting that Oo wrote to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March, citing the ongoing violence in Myanmar and asking to compete as an Independent Olympic Athlete. However, the IOC said Win Htet Oo did not appear to have a place for the Games, as awarded via the world swimming body FINA's qualifying system.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Oo wished the athletes who took part in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics as Myanmar made its seventeenth appearance at the Olympics.&nbsp;

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Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/tokyo-olympics">here</a>&nbsp;for all Tokyo Olympics updates!

"I shall not march in the (opening ceremony's) Parade of Nations under a flag steeped in my people's blood," said Myanmar's Win Htet Oo, who was supposed to make his Olympic debut as the country's lone swimmer.

"I shall not march in the (opening ceremony's) Parade of Nations under a flag steeped in my people's blood," said Myanmar's Win Htet Oo, who was supposed to make his Olympic debut as the country's lone swimmer. While nations across the globe are cheering for their players as they win medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, a few would remember the sacrifice Oo made after the Myanmar military seized power in a coup in February, earlier this year. Amid the Tokyo Olympics frenzy and fanfare, it is heartbreaking to see a well-deserved athlete being absent due to political reasons. Win Htet Oo had qualified for the 50m freestyle swimming competition and is considered one of Myanmar's top swimmers. However, the 26-year-old abandoned his dreams of representing his country at the Olympics and said he was no longer interested in going to Tokyo in protest against Myanmar's junta. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Athletes 'must' wear masks at Games apart from podium moment While taking to Facebook, Oo wrote, "To accept the MOC (Myanmar Olympic Committee) as it is currently led is to recognise the legitimacy of a murderous regime. I shall not march in the (opening ceremony's) Parade of Nations under a flag steeped in my people's blood." The swimmer had also said that after the February coup he knew he couldn't go to the Olympic Games. So, it was an easy decision to make, even after training for two decades for the chance to go to the Olympics. "I just couldn't bring myself to attend, if [the MOC] was being controlled by the military," he added. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics: Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's special Olympic earrings stole the show × Myanmar in political turmoil ever since the 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was democratically elected as a civilian leader of Myanmar, was detained on February 1 in a coup d'état. The coup was carried out by Myanmar armed forces and Suu Kyi was slapped with a series of charges. Several other members of her political party, journalists and other prominent figures were also arrested. The coup ignited deadly protests across the country and hundreds of people have lost their lives. Besides protests and nationwide civil disobedience, the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to ravage as the situation remains dire in the county. IN PICS: Tokyo Olympics 2020- From PV Sindhu to Deepika Kumari: Top Indian athletes to look out for! "I wanted to show Myanmar people that athletes can take part in the civil disobedience movement," he told AFP, speaking from Melbourne, Australia. "The image of me walking behind the flag in the Parade of Nations and smiling - pretending everything was all right - quite frankly disgusted me. It would be a propaganda exercise, some sort of way to tell the world that everything is fine in Myanmar," he added. It is worth noting that Oo wrote to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March, citing the ongoing violence in Myanmar and asking to compete as an Independent Olympic Athlete. However, the IOC said Win Htet Oo did not appear to have a place for the Games, as awarded via the world swimming body FINA's qualifying system. Meanwhile, Oo wished the athletes who took part in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics as Myanmar made its seventeenth appearance at the Olympics. × Click here for all Tokyo Olympics updates!

Tokyo 2020: When Myanmar swimmer ditched Olympic dreams in protest against junta ruling

China claimed its first diving gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, keeping its winning streak in the sport rolling in the women's events.

Aiming for a clean sweep of all eight diving golds on offer in women's and men's events, the Asian powerhouse claimed the women's 3 metres synchronised springboard tile with Shi Tingmao and Wang Han leading the five-round final from the very start, finishing on 326.40 points.

Cheers from team mates and coaches rang around the mostly empty venue when the duo plunged into the pool with almost no splash on their last dive, showing once again their dominance of the event.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/Tokyo%20Olympics:%20Silver%20medallist%20Mirabai%20Chanu's%20special%20Olympic%20earrings%20stole%20the%20show">Tokyo Olympics: Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's special Olympic earrings stole the show</a>

China has now won five successive Olympic titles in the women's synchronised 3 metre springboard, which made its Olympic debut in 2000.

For Shi, the Tokyo win marked a second successive Olympic gold medal in the event, while Han grabbed her first.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-olympics-athletes-must-wear-masks-at-games-apart-from-podium-moment-400491" hreflang="en">Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Athletes 'must' wear masks at Games apart from podium moment</a>

Canadian pair Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu took silver with 300.78 points, followed by Lena Hentschel and Tina Punzel of Germany with 284.97 points.

China claimed its first diving gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, keeping its winning streak in the sport rolling in the women's events. Aiming for a clean sweep of all eight diving golds on offer in women's and men's events, the Asian powerhouse claimed the women's 3 metres synchronised springboard tile with Shi Tingmao and Wang Han leading the five-round final from the very start, finishing on 326.

China claimed its first diving gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, keeping its winning streak in the sport rolling in the women's events. Aiming for a clean sweep of all eight diving golds on offer in women's and men's events, the Asian powerhouse claimed the women's 3 metres synchronised springboard tile with Shi Tingmao and Wang Han leading the five-round final from the very start, finishing on 326.40 points. Cheers from team mates and coaches rang around the mostly empty venue when the duo plunged into the pool with almost no splash on their last dive, showing once again their dominance of the event. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics: Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's special Olympic earrings stole the show China has now won five successive Olympic titles in the women's synchronised 3 metre springboard, which made its Olympic debut in 2000. For Shi, the Tokyo win marked a second successive Olympic gold medal in the event, while Han grabbed her first. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Athletes 'must' wear masks at Games apart from podium moment Canadian pair Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu took silver with 300.78 points, followed by Lena Hentschel and Tina Punzel of Germany with 284.97 points.

Olympics 2020: China women keep diving gold streak alive with Tokyo win

Naomi Osaka said she was feeling refreshed and ready to play, following a dominant 6-1 6-4 win over China's Zheng Saisai in the opening round of the Tokyo Games - her first victory since taking a mental health break two months ago.

The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion had not played a competitive match since the French Open in May, when she withdrew after being fined for skipping the mandatory post-match press conferences on mental health reasons. She then also pulled out of Wimbledon.

Osaka said she appreciated taking time away from the court ahead of the Games in Tokyo, where she was chosen to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony on Friday night.

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-from-pv-sindhu-to-deepika-kumari-top-indian-athletes-to-look-out-for-400283">Tokyo Olympics 2020- From PV Sindhu to Deepika Kumari: Top Indian athletes to look out for!</a>&nbsp;

"More than anything, I'm just focused on playing tennis," she said in her first appearance in front of media in more than two months.

"Playing the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so I feel like the break I took was very needed. But I feel definitely a little bit refreshed and happy again."

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Osaka's return to the game was hailed by the Japanese public, who showered her with praise following her win.

"(I admire) her powerful nature. Not just when she's playing, but she has her own principles which is wonderful," said 63-year-old office worker Yoshihiro Ohba.

Osaka was in ominous form against the 52nd-ranked Zheng, racing through the first set in just 32 minutes.

In the second set, the 23-year-old gained another early break but squandered two match points on the Chinese player's serve at 5-3.

Osaka went on to serve out the match to love.

Naomi Osaka said she was feeling refreshed and ready to play, following a dominant 6-1 6-4 win over China's Zheng Saisai in the opening round of the Tokyo Games - her first victory since taking a mental health break two months ago.

Naomi Osaka said she was feeling refreshed and ready to play, following a dominant 6-1 6-4 win over China's Zheng Saisai in the opening round of the Tokyo Games - her first victory since taking a mental health break two months ago. The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion had not played a competitive match since the French Open in May, when she withdrew after being fined for skipping the mandatory post-match press conferences on mental health reasons. She then also pulled out of Wimbledon. Osaka said she appreciated taking time away from the court ahead of the Games in Tokyo, where she was chosen to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony on Friday night. IN PICS: Tokyo Olympics 2020- From PV Sindhu to Deepika Kumari: Top Indian athletes to look out for! "More than anything, I'm just focused on playing tennis," she said in her first appearance in front of media in more than two months. "Playing the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so I feel like the break I took was very needed. But I feel definitely a little bit refreshed and happy again." ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics: Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu's special Olympic earrings stole the show Osaka's return to the game was hailed by the Japanese public, who showered her with praise following her win. "(I admire) her powerful nature. Not just when she's playing, but she has her own principles which is wonderful," said 63-year-old office worker Yoshihiro Ohba. Osaka was in ominous form against the 52nd-ranked Zheng, racing through the first set in just 32 minutes. In the second set, the 23-year-old gained another early break but squandered two match points on the Chinese player's serve at 5-3. Osaka went on to serve out the match to love.

Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka refreshed and ready after first win since May

The first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics has been claimed by China's Yang Qian in the women's 10-meter rifle competition on Saturday (July 24). Yang won the elusive medal with an Olympic record score of 251.8 as she finished ahead of Russia's Anastasiia Galashina. Switzerland's Nina Christen picked&nbsp;up the bronze medal.&nbsp;

Switzerland's Christen was knocked out on 230.6 points winning the&nbsp;first bronze medal of Tokyo 2020. After that, it's a straight shoot-off between Anastasiia and Yang for gold.&nbsp;

In their first shots of the final set, it was 10.7 for Yang and 10.8 for Galashina. The Russian shooter had a 0.2 lead overall going into the last shots but she managed only an 8.9 – her lowest score of this final. Yang shot a 9.8 and won the gold medal.&nbsp;

Previously, Norwegian Jeanette Hegg Duestad had set an Olympic qualifying record of 632.9 to reach the final but finished just outside the medals.&nbsp;

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24 July - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shooting</a> / Women's 10m Air Rifle 
 
🥇 YANG Qian🇨🇳 
🥈 Anastasiia Galashina 
🥉 Nina Christen🇨🇭 
 
Congratulations to the first medalists of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedByEmotion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedByEmotion</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrongerTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrongerTogether</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ISSF_Shooting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ISSF_Shooting</a>
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tokyo2020/status/1418760734914211841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On the other hand, Indian shooters were disappointed as Elavenil Valarivan finished at 16th (626.5) and Apurvi Chandela finished 36th (621.9), hence, failed to qualify in the 10m air rifle women's qualification round.&nbsp;

The first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics has been claimed by China's Yang Qian in the women's 10-meter rifle competition on Saturday (July 24). Yang won the elusive medal with an Olympic record score of 251.

The first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics has been claimed by China's Yang Qian in the women's 10-meter rifle competition on Saturday (July 24). Yang won the elusive medal with an Olympic record score of 251.8 as she finished ahead of Russia's Anastasiia Galashina. Switzerland's Nina Christen picked up the bronze medal. Switzerland's Christen was knocked out on 230.6 points winning the first bronze medal of Tokyo 2020. After that, it's a straight shoot-off between Anastasiia and Yang for gold. In their first shots of the final set, it was 10.7 for Yang and 10.8 for Galashina. The Russian shooter had a 0.2 lead overall going into the last shots but she managed only an 8.9 – her lowest score of this final. Yang shot a 9.8 and won the gold medal. Previously, Norwegian Jeanette Hegg Duestad had set an Olympic qualifying record of 632.9 to reach the final but finished just outside the medals. 24 July - #Shooting / Women's 10m Air Rifle 🥇 YANG Qian🇨🇳 🥈 Anastasiia Galashina 🥉 Nina Christen🇨🇭 Congratulations to the first medalists of #Tokyo2020 #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | @ISSF_Shooting — #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 24, 2021 × On the other hand, Indian shooters were disappointed as Elavenil Valarivan finished at 16th (626.5) and Apurvi Chandela finished 36th (621.9), hence, failed to qualify in the 10m air rifle women's qualification round.

China's Yang Qian wins first gold medal of Tokyo Olympics 2020 in women's 10m air rifle event

WION Wideangle takes you to Tokyo2020 70+ people linked to the Games tested positive for COVID Experts: Olympic Village bubble already 'broken' No spectators, but thousands are at risk Why is Japan flirting with disaster? Will Tokyo Olympics become a COVID super-spreader?

Tokyo Olympics: A super-spreader games? | WION Wideangle

After failing to score in their Olympics debut,&nbsp;Mexico's&nbsp;softball&nbsp;players came good on their promise that a different team would show up on the second day of the Games.

With their bench ramping up cheering at each turn,&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;erased deficits against defending gold medallists Japan and nearly won in extra innings.

Now,&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;will need to bring even more fighting energy, as their players described it, to avoid sinking to a third straight loss in the Olympics tournament when they&nbsp;take&nbsp;on United States on Saturday.

Fortunately, it may be easy to muster: nearly all of&nbsp;Mexico's roster hail from the United States, but were effectively passed over for the Olympics run and are qualified to represent&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;through dual heritage.

Several played for United States previously. Danielle O'Toole, who pitched&nbsp;Mexico's entire 3-2 loss to Japan on Thursday, played on the&nbsp;US&nbsp;team in 2017 and 2018 before being cut.

Lead-off hitter Sydney Romero previously competed for the United States, as did starting pitcher Dallas Escobedo, who struggled in a loss to Canada on Wednesday.

The strong links between the two teams are even more personal for some: Shortstops and former pro-league teammates Amanda Chidester of the United States and Anissa Urtez of&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;last November became engaged to marry.

Urtez, like others on&nbsp;Mexico, said she tried out for&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;because she knew "USA wasn't in the cards for me".

Chidester said she and Urtez are "beyond proud of each other for living out our dreams."

U.S. Coach Ken Eriksen told Reuters that his counterparts had excelled at identifying players of Mexican heritage "that were just on the cusp of making it and didn't for whatever reason it was."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-day-1-live-updates-indian-men-archers-finish-below-30-places-399834">Also read |&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Indian men archers finish below 30 places</a>

"You can't argue with what they are doing right there," he said.

The assemblage was not by chance.&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;coach Carlos Caro began scouring rosters of&nbsp;U.S. colleges for Latinas in 2013, when Tokyo was named Olympics host. He contacted coaches, cousins, everyone he could think of in a years-long recruiting push.

Catcher Sashel Palacios was among the first on board. She roped in Escobedo and the line continued from there.

Mexico&nbsp;Softball&nbsp;President Rolando Guerrero used personal credit cards and sold off real estate to get the team to tournaments, Caro said. After qualifying for the Olympics, the government upped funding.

Palacios said she and others receive criticism on both sides of the border for being a roster of Mexican Americans. Critics in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;at least could be silenced by a medal.

After failing to score in their Olympics debut, Mexico's softball players came good on their promise that a different team would show up on the second day of the Games.

After failing to score in their Olympics debut, Mexico's softball players came good on their promise that a different team would show up on the second day of the Games. With their bench ramping up cheering at each turn, Mexico erased deficits against defending gold medallists Japan and nearly won in extra innings. Now, Mexico will need to bring even more fighting energy, as their players described it, to avoid sinking to a third straight loss in the Olympics tournament when they take on United States on Saturday. Fortunately, it may be easy to muster: nearly all of Mexico's roster hail from the United States, but were effectively passed over for the Olympics run and are qualified to represent Mexico through dual heritage. Several played for United States previously. Danielle O'Toole, who pitched Mexico's entire 3-2 loss to Japan on Thursday, played on the US team in 2017 and 2018 before being cut. Lead-off hitter Sydney Romero previously competed for the United States, as did starting pitcher Dallas Escobedo, who struggled in a loss to Canada on Wednesday. The strong links between the two teams are even more personal for some: Shortstops and former pro-league teammates Amanda Chidester of the United States and Anissa Urtez of Mexico last November became engaged to marry. Urtez, like others on Mexico, said she tried out for Mexico because she knew "USA wasn't in the cards for me". Chidester said she and Urtez are "beyond proud of each other for living out our dreams." U.S. Coach Ken Eriksen told Reuters that his counterparts had excelled at identifying players of Mexican heritage "that were just on the cusp of making it and didn't for whatever reason it was." Also read | Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Indian men archers finish below 30 places "You can't argue with what they are doing right there," he said. The assemblage was not by chance. Mexico coach Carlos Caro began scouring rosters of U.S. colleges for Latinas in 2013, when Tokyo was named Olympics host. He contacted coaches, cousins, everyone he could think of in a years-long recruiting push. Catcher Sashel Palacios was among the first on board. She roped in Escobedo and the line continued from there. Mexico Softball President Rolando Guerrero used personal credit cards and sold off real estate to get the team to tournaments, Caro said. After qualifying for the Olympics, the government upped funding. Palacios said she and others receive criticism on both sides of the border for being a roster of Mexican Americans. Critics in Mexico at least could be silenced by a medal.

Tokyo Olympics softball: Mexico to take on US in clash of familiar foes and fiancees

Novak&nbsp;Djokovic's road to the Golden Slam is not an easy one, with possible matches against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev in his path at the Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics.

Djokovic, representing Serbia, has won the season's first three grand slams and could become the first male player ever to win the Golden Slam if he first captures gold in Tokyo. Then all that's left is winning the US&nbsp;Open in August. Steffi Graf is the only player to ever do it, in 1988.

However,&nbsp;Djokovic&nbsp;has just one bronze medal to his name in three previous&nbsp;Olympics. He lost to Juan Martin del Potro twice, in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio), after capturing bronze at the 2008 Beijing&nbsp;Olympics.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-day-1-live-updates-indian-men-archers-finish-below-30-places-399834">Also read |&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Indian men archers finish below 30 places</a>

Djokovic, 34-3 this ATP season, opens against Bolivia's Hugo Dellien, ranked 139th in the world. But then things could get harder.

Djokovic&nbsp;could face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the third round.&nbsp;Djokovic&nbsp;trailed Musetti 2-love at the French Open last month before rallying for the victory.

Djokovic&nbsp;could face World No. 7 Rublev of Russia in the quarterfinals; it would be the first match between them. If he wins there, he could face the fifth-ranked Zverev of Germany in the semifinals.

World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia makes his Olympic debut against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

The tennis event is being held at Ariake Tennis Park, site of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships. The ATP-500 event is played in October.

Novak Djokovic's road to the Golden Slam is not an easy one, with possible matches against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev in his path at the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic, representing Serbia, has won the season's first three grand slams and could become the first male player ever to win the Golden Slam if he first captures gold in Tokyo.

Novak Djokovic's road to the Golden Slam is not an easy one, with possible matches against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev in his path at the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic, representing Serbia, has won the season's first three grand slams and could become the first male player ever to win the Golden Slam if he first captures gold in Tokyo. Then all that's left is winning the US Open in August. Steffi Graf is the only player to ever do it, in 1988. However, Djokovic has just one bronze medal to his name in three previous Olympics. He lost to Juan Martin del Potro twice, in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio), after capturing bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Also read | Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Indian men archers finish below 30 places Djokovic, 34-3 this ATP season, opens against Bolivia's Hugo Dellien, ranked 139th in the world. But then things could get harder. Djokovic could face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. Djokovic trailed Musetti 2-love at the French Open last month before rallying for the victory. Djokovic could face World No. 7 Rublev of Russia in the quarterfinals; it would be the first match between them. If he wins there, he could face the fifth-ranked Zverev of Germany in the semifinals. World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia makes his Olympic debut against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. The tennis event is being held at Ariake Tennis Park, site of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships. The ATP-500 event is played in October.

Novak Djokovic faces tough draw at Olympics

The director of the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics 2020 has been fired on the eve of the event after reports emerged of a past joke he had made about the Holocaust. Video of Kentaro Kobayashi from the 1990s recently emerged in which he appears to make jokes about the Holocaust.

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Opening ceremony Director fired over Holocaust joke

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics finally kicks off on Friday. The Games will begin still in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time ever, no fans will be permitted to witness the opening ceremony just like they have been banned from other sporting competitions.

Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony to kick off on Friday

Tokyo Olympics: The Parade of Nations at opening ceremony

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Friday, hoping for a glimpse of an opening ceremony that will take place behind closed doors because of strict anti-coronavirus rules.

Only a few hundred dignitaries and officials will be allowed into the 68,000-capacity venue to watch the opening extravaganza of the Games that were postponed last year because of the pandemic, but crowds of residents from Tokyo and beyond flocked to the venue looking to soak up the atmosphere.

"We're here for the atmosphere, the light-up and the fireworks," Mako Fukuhara told AFP outside the stadium.

"We're hoping to see the opening ceremony, or at least just get a feel for it," she said.

"Until now it didn't feel like the Olympics, but now we are by the stadium, it feels like the Olympics!"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-day-1-live-updates-opening-ceremony-live-telecast-to-begin-at-430-pm-ist-399834">Also read |&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Opening ceremony live telecast to begin at 4:30 pm IST</a>

Nearby, crowds milled around the Olympic museum next to the renovated stadium, and lined up for the chance to take a photo in front of an installation of the multi-coloured Games rings.

For months, polls showed people in Japan were opposed to holding the Games this summer, particularly as virus cases rise in Tokyo and beyond.

But opposition appeared to soften as athletes began arriving in the country, and thousands of people turned out across Tokyo earlier in the day for an Olympic aerial display by the Japanese air force.

Outside the Sendagaya train station near the stadium, around a dozen protesters held a small demonstration opposing the Olympics.

But others used loudspeakers to offer their support for the postponed Games.

"I welcome the opening of the Olympics, it's a proud moment for me as a Japanese person," one woman said.

Aiko Hirota arrived six hours before the ceremony to get a taste of the event.

"Despite the fact that it's going to be held without spectators, I'm impressed by the atmosphere of the people here," she said.

"I hope that even if the Games is held without spectators, the athletes can see that this many people support them."

Some came from even further afield to be part of the experience, including Chinese citizen Cho Kouko, who travelled from Osaka in western Japan.

"I'm here to support the athletes from China... I want to greet them when they drive past."

Han Yi-ting, a Tokyo resident from Taiwan, said she was hoping for a good view of the fireworks expected to light up the sky during the three-and-a-half hour long ceremony.

"I've waited for this for a year, I'm looking forward to it," she said.

"I thought it was a shame that it had to be postponed last year, but now it's happening again, and the atmosphere is great."

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Friday, hoping for a glimpse of an opening ceremony that will take place behind closed doors because of strict anti-coronavirus rules.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Friday, hoping for a glimpse of an opening ceremony that will take place behind closed doors because of strict anti-coronavirus rules. Only a few hundred dignitaries and officials will be allowed into the 68,000-capacity venue to watch the opening extravaganza of the Games that were postponed last year because of the pandemic, but crowds of residents from Tokyo and beyond flocked to the venue looking to soak up the atmosphere. "We're here for the atmosphere, the light-up and the fireworks," Mako Fukuhara told AFP outside the stadium. "We're hoping to see the opening ceremony, or at least just get a feel for it," she said. "Until now it didn't feel like the Olympics, but now we are by the stadium, it feels like the Olympics!" Also read | Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Opening ceremony live telecast to begin at 4:30 pm IST Nearby, crowds milled around the Olympic museum next to the renovated stadium, and lined up for the chance to take a photo in front of an installation of the multi-coloured Games rings. For months, polls showed people in Japan were opposed to holding the Games this summer, particularly as virus cases rise in Tokyo and beyond. But opposition appeared to soften as athletes began arriving in the country, and thousands of people turned out across Tokyo earlier in the day for an Olympic aerial display by the Japanese air force. Outside the Sendagaya train station near the stadium, around a dozen protesters held a small demonstration opposing the Olympics. But others used loudspeakers to offer their support for the postponed Games. "I welcome the opening of the Olympics, it's a proud moment for me as a Japanese person," one woman said. Aiko Hirota arrived six hours before the ceremony to get a taste of the event. "Despite the fact that it's going to be held without spectators, I'm impressed by the atmosphere of the people here," she said. "I hope that even if the Games is held without spectators, the athletes can see that this many people support them." Some came from even further afield to be part of the experience, including Chinese citizen Cho Kouko, who travelled from Osaka in western Japan. "I'm here to support the athletes from China... I want to greet them when they drive past." Han Yi-ting, a Tokyo resident from Taiwan, said she was hoping for a good view of the fireworks expected to light up the sky during the three-and-a-half hour long ceremony. "I've waited for this for a year, I'm looking forward to it," she said. "I thought it was a shame that it had to be postponed last year, but now it's happening again, and the atmosphere is great."

Crowds gather outside Tokyo stadium for Olympics opening ceremony

Japan's Naomi Osaka will return to the spotlight on Sunday, kicking off her Olympic campaign as a home crowd favourite after taking a mental health break two months ago. 
 
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and world number two, has not played a competitive match since pulling out of the French Open in May amid controversy over her decision to skip all press conferences at the tournament in an effort to protect her mental well-being. 
 
But with all of her major wins coming on hard courts, the same surface being used in Tokyo, the 23-year-old remains widely seen as one of host Japan's strongest gold medal contenders in a field of 64 players each for women's and men's singles that is missing some of the biggest names in the sport. 
 
Amid heightened coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Switzerland`s Roger Federer and Spain`s Rafael Nadal, each with multiple Grand Slams to their names, both pulled out ahead of the Games, along with reigning US&nbsp;Open men`s champion Dominic Thiem. 
 
In the women's singles, two-time Slam winner Simona Halep will be absent, like American sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who have four gold medals each. Another US&nbsp;player, teenager Coco Gauff, pulled out earlier this week after testing positive for COVID-19. 
 
Osaka, who is making her Olympic debut, had originally been scheduled to kick off the tournament on Centre Court at the Ariake Tennis Park on Saturday. 
 
But she will now take on China`s Zheng Saisai, ranked 52 in the world, on Sunday, following a request from Tokyo 2020 organisers, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) spokesperson confirmed to Reuters. There was no reason given for the change. 
 
Last year`s French Open champion Iga Swiatek will now play the first marquee match of the Games against Mona Barthel of Germany, with the contest set to begin at 11.00am local time (0200 GMT). 
 
Osaka could potentially go on to meet Swiatek in a blockbuster quarter-final, while world number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia may await on the other side of the draw. 
 
In a essay penned for Time Magazine earlier this month, Osaka said she stood by her decision to step away from the court but was now ready to make Japan proud at the Games. 
 
"An Olympic Games itself is special, but to have the opportunity to play in front of the Japanese fans is a dream come true," Osaka wrote.

Japan's Naomi Osaka will return to the spotlight on Sunday, kicking off her Olympic campaign as a home crowd favourite after taking a mental health break two months ago.

Japan's Naomi Osaka will return to the spotlight on Sunday, kicking off her Olympic campaign as a home crowd favourite after taking a mental health break two months ago. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and world number two, has not played a competitive match since pulling out of the French Open in May amid controversy over her decision to skip all press conferences at the tournament in an effort to protect her mental well-being. But with all of her major wins coming on hard courts, the same surface being used in Tokyo, the 23-year-old remains widely seen as one of host Japan's strongest gold medal contenders in a field of 64 players each for women's and men's singles that is missing some of the biggest names in the sport. Amid heightened coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Switzerland`s Roger Federer and Spain`s Rafael Nadal, each with multiple Grand Slams to their names, both pulled out ahead of the Games, along with reigning US Open men`s champion Dominic Thiem. In the women's singles, two-time Slam winner Simona Halep will be absent, like American sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who have four gold medals each. Another US player, teenager Coco Gauff, pulled out earlier this week after testing positive for COVID-19. Osaka, who is making her Olympic debut, had originally been scheduled to kick off the tournament on Centre Court at the Ariake Tennis Park on Saturday. But she will now take on China`s Zheng Saisai, ranked 52 in the world, on Sunday, following a request from Tokyo 2020 organisers, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) spokesperson confirmed to Reuters. There was no reason given for the change. Last year`s French Open champion Iga Swiatek will now play the first marquee match of the Games against Mona Barthel of Germany, with the contest set to begin at 11.00am local time (0200 GMT). Osaka could potentially go on to meet Swiatek in a blockbuster quarter-final, while world number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia may await on the other side of the draw. In a essay penned for Time Magazine earlier this month, Osaka said she stood by her decision to step away from the court but was now ready to make Japan proud at the Games. "An Olympic Games itself is special, but to have the opportunity to play in front of the Japanese fans is a dream come true," Osaka wrote.

Olympics- Tennis: Japan's Osaka returns to Games' spotlight on Sunday

Having sat proudly on the medal table podium as a real sporting superpower at the last two Games, British success will be measured by a different metric in Tokyo, the country's leading Olympic and sporting officials said on Friday. 
 
From the low of 1996 when they managed only one gold and finished 36th in the rankings, Britain rose to finish third in the London Games medal table of 2012 on the back of a huge injection of lottery funding. 
 
Four years later in Rio, Britain finished an extraordinary second behind the United States. 
 
Expectations are lower this time, despite Britain sending their biggest team, of around 380, to an overseas Games and qualifying for 26 of the 33 sports. 
 
The British Olympic Association and UK Sport had previously announced a change of approach, with funding no longer targeted so narrowly at potential medallists, but the particular challenges surrounding the COVID-delayed Tokyo Games have further diluted that emphasis on "only the podium counts". 
 
"At this most extraordinary of Games success is definitely not just about counting medals," Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, told journalists. 
 
"It`s about our athletes reaching Tokyo, their well-being, and reaching their dreams but also about bringing us as Britons together and sharing that national pride. 
 
"We are not shying away from our target of wanting to keep winning medals and our long term aspiration is to always be in the top five, but it will feel very different this time and be very emotional and we also want every athlete to have a really positive journey." 
 
Hugh Robertson, chairman of the BOA and Britain`s former Minster for Sport, added: "Anybody watching this will realize these are an extraordinary and unique Games and this is going to be a bumpy ride and it will be an achievement just to get all those athletes to the start line. 
 
"We also have a much younger squad here than in London and Rio with some of that focus on potentially medalling in Paris (in 2024)." 
 
Officials have not made public any specific medal targets per-sport but are looking at a total range of 45-70 (compared to 65 in 2012 and 67 in 2016). 
 
"We are excited about the breadth and at some of the new sports coming in so there will be a real range of medal opportunities," Munday said. 
 
"But the athletes are also willing and keen to share their own experiences and it is important to tell those stories and show that this Games is more than medals. 
 
"I think the British public get it and are just thrilled that the Games are going ahead and that the athletes who have trained so hard to compete are able to be here."

Having sat proudly on the medal table podium as a real sporting superpower at the last two Games, British success will be measured by a different metric in Tokyo, the country's leading Olympic and sporting officials said on Friday.

Having sat proudly on the medal table podium as a real sporting superpower at the last two Games, British success will be measured by a different metric in Tokyo, the country's leading Olympic and sporting officials said on Friday. From the low of 1996 when they managed only one gold and finished 36th in the rankings, Britain rose to finish third in the London Games medal table of 2012 on the back of a huge injection of lottery funding. Four years later in Rio, Britain finished an extraordinary second behind the United States. Expectations are lower this time, despite Britain sending their biggest team, of around 380, to an overseas Games and qualifying for 26 of the 33 sports. The British Olympic Association and UK Sport had previously announced a change of approach, with funding no longer targeted so narrowly at potential medallists, but the particular challenges surrounding the COVID-delayed Tokyo Games have further diluted that emphasis on "only the podium counts". "At this most extraordinary of Games success is definitely not just about counting medals," Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, told journalists. "It`s about our athletes reaching Tokyo, their well-being, and reaching their dreams but also about bringing us as Britons together and sharing that national pride. "We are not shying away from our target of wanting to keep winning medals and our long term aspiration is to always be in the top five, but it will feel very different this time and be very emotional and we also want every athlete to have a really positive journey." Hugh Robertson, chairman of the BOA and Britain`s former Minster for Sport, added: "Anybody watching this will realize these are an extraordinary and unique Games and this is going to be a bumpy ride and it will be an achievement just to get all those athletes to the start line. "We also have a much younger squad here than in London and Rio with some of that focus on potentially medalling in Paris (in 2024)." Officials have not made public any specific medal targets per-sport but are looking at a total range of 45-70 (compared to 65 in 2012 and 67 in 2016). "We are excited about the breadth and at some of the new sports coming in so there will be a real range of medal opportunities," Munday said. "But the athletes are also willing and keen to share their own experiences and it is important to tell those stories and show that this Games is more than medals. "I think the British public get it and are just thrilled that the Games are going ahead and that the athletes who have trained so hard to compete are able to be here."

Olympics: Tokyo success about more than medals, say British officials

Opposition to the International Olympic Committee's ban on podium protests at the Tokyo Games intensified on Friday with more than 150 athletes, academics and social justice advocates signing an open letter demanding changes to Rule 50. 
 
The IOC earlier this month relaxed the rule, which had previously forbidden athletes from any protests but now allows them to make gestures on the field provided they do so without disruption and with respect for fellow competitors. 
 
However, there is still a threat of sanctions if protests are made on the podium during the Games. 
 
The letter said it was adding "a collective voice" to calls for amendments to Rule 50. 
 
"We believe the global sport community is at a turning point in matters of racial and social justice, and we call on you as leaders in the Olympic and Paralympic movements to make a stronger commitment to human rights, racial/social justice, and social inclusion," the letter read. 
 
Among the signatories were Black US&nbsp;sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who were expelled from the 1968 Olympics after they bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists on the podium to protest racial inequality. 
 
The Muhammad Ali Center also signed the letter, with the late boxing world and Olympic champion`s cauldron lighting at the Atlanta 1996 Games having become an iconic moment of Olympic history. 
 
The letter called for no sanctions to be imposed on athletes who protested on the podium in Japan and demanded a review of Rule 50 after next year`s Beijing Winter Olympics. 
 
British track and field medal hope Dina Asher-Smith also joined the chorus of opposition as she prepared for the Games. 
 
"Protesting and expressing yourself is a fundamental human right," she told reporters. "If you were to penalise someone for standing up against racial inequality how on earth would that go? How on earth are you going to enforce that?" 
 
"When people feel strongly about something, particularly when it’s something that’s so close to your heart – and as a Black woman you think about racism – I just think you can’t police people’s voice on that."

Opposition to the International Olympic Committee's ban on podium protests at the Tokyo Games intensified on Friday with more than 150 athletes, academics and social justice advocates signing an open letter demanding changes to Rule 50.

Opposition to the International Olympic Committee's ban on podium protests at the Tokyo Games intensified on Friday with more than 150 athletes, academics and social justice advocates signing an open letter demanding changes to Rule 50. The IOC earlier this month relaxed the rule, which had previously forbidden athletes from any protests but now allows them to make gestures on the field provided they do so without disruption and with respect for fellow competitors. However, there is still a threat of sanctions if protests are made on the podium during the Games. The letter said it was adding "a collective voice" to calls for amendments to Rule 50. "We believe the global sport community is at a turning point in matters of racial and social justice, and we call on you as leaders in the Olympic and Paralympic movements to make a stronger commitment to human rights, racial/social justice, and social inclusion," the letter read. Among the signatories were Black US sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who were expelled from the 1968 Olympics after they bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists on the podium to protest racial inequality. The Muhammad Ali Center also signed the letter, with the late boxing world and Olympic champion`s cauldron lighting at the Atlanta 1996 Games having become an iconic moment of Olympic history. The letter called for no sanctions to be imposed on athletes who protested on the podium in Japan and demanded a review of Rule 50 after next year`s Beijing Winter Olympics. British track and field medal hope Dina Asher-Smith also joined the chorus of opposition as she prepared for the Games. "Protesting and expressing yourself is a fundamental human right," she told reporters. "If you were to penalise someone for standing up against racial inequality how on earth would that go? How on earth are you going to enforce that?" "When people feel strongly about something, particularly when it’s something that’s so close to your heart – and as a Black woman you think about racism – I just think you can’t police people’s voice on that."

Olympics: Opposition to Tokyo Games podium protest ban grows

On the&nbsp;eve&nbsp;of the Tokyo&nbsp;Games, organisers&nbsp;fired&nbsp;the&nbsp;director&nbsp;of the&nbsp;opening&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;over&nbsp;a&nbsp;joke&nbsp;he made about the&nbsp;Holocaust, while media reported former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate for the Tokyo&nbsp;Games, would skip the showpiece&nbsp;event.

The news is the latest in a series of embarrassments for Tokyo organisers that have sparked outrage and comes just days after a well known musician was forced to step down as composer for the&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;after old reports of his bullying and abusive behaviour surfaced.

Earlier this year, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee resigned after making sexist remarks and Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;creative head followed after he made derogatory comments about a popular Japanese female entertainer.

Tokyo&nbsp;Games&nbsp;organisers&nbsp;fired&nbsp;Kentaro Kobayashi on Thursday&nbsp;over&nbsp;a&nbsp;joke&nbsp;he made about the&nbsp;Holocaust&nbsp;as part of his comedy act in the 1990s that recently resurfaced in domestic media.

"I offer my deep apology for causing trouble and worry for many people concerned as well as Tokyo residents and Japanese people when the&nbsp;opening&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;is almost upon us," said a sombre Seiko Hashimoto, who heads the organising committee.

Earlier, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, an international Jewish human rights organisation, released a statement saying Kobayashi's association with the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;would "insult the memory" of the six million Jewish people who perished in the&nbsp;Holocaust.

Kobayashi apologised for his past comments in a statement.

Former PM Abe, who famously dressed up as the titular plumber from video game Super Mario at the Rio&nbsp;Games&nbsp;to represent Japan, played an outsized role in attracting the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;to Tokyo.

At the time of the bid, Abe and his supporters hoped the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;would parallel the 1964 Tokyo&nbsp;Games&nbsp;heralding the nation's revival after decades of economic stagnation and also mark its recovery from a devastating nuclear and natural disaster in 2011.

But the spectacle of last-minute personnel changes, the resurfacing of past abusive comments and the looming presence of the pandemic threatened to turn the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;into a "PR disaster," said Bob Pickard, a veteran PR executive at Signal Leadership Communication.

"Tokyo 2020 was supposed to be a global platform for the launch of a new Japan facing an international future with confidence. Instead, what we see here is the legacy of the old Japan's insular attitudes mired in past prejudices and dated stereotypes," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-canada-australia-to-assemble-with-10-percent-of-team-at-opening-ceremony-399612">Also read |&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics: Canada, Australia to assemble with 10 percent of team at opening ceremony</a>

NHK said Abe decided against attending the&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;after the Japanese government declared a state of emergency and virus restrictions&nbsp;over&nbsp;Tokyo. Abe's office could not immediately be reached on Thursday, a public holiday in Japan.

The&nbsp;opening&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;on Friday is set to be a subdued affair, with just 950 people - including only around 15 global leaders - set to attend. Spectators have been barred from most Olympic&nbsp;events as COVID-19 cases surge in the capital.

First Lady Jill Biden lands in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon for the&nbsp;Games'&nbsp;opening&nbsp;ceremony, raising expectations she might also use her attendance to discuss vaccines with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Biden has been travelling across the United States urging more people to get inoculated.

Only a third of Japanese have had at least one dose of the vaccine, fuelling public concerns that the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;could become a super-spreader&nbsp;event.

In a recent poll, 68% of respondents expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organisers to control coronavirus infections, with 55% saying they opposed the&nbsp;Games&nbsp;going ahead.

Already 87 Olympic-related personnel, including athletes, have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing athlete withdrawals and pushing teammates to isolate.

In light of new cases reported in the Olympic village, the US gymnastics team moved into a hotel, a coach said in a Twitter exchange earlier this week.

Olympic organisers referred Reuters questions on the topic to the US team.

Olympics&nbsp;competition has already begun, with the Japanese women's softball team getting the hosts off to a winning start on Wednesday.

Between matches in rural Fukushima, which was devastated by the 2011 nuclear disaster, softball players were on the lookout for a brown bear which had been spotted this week.

"I'm kind of disappointed I didn't get to see it," US pitcher Monica Abbott said.

On the eve of the Tokyo Games, organisers fired the director of the opening ceremony over a joke he made about the Holocaust, while media reported former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate for the Tokyo Games, would skip the showpiece event.

On the eve of the Tokyo Games, organisers fired the director of the opening ceremony over a joke he made about the Holocaust, while media reported former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate for the Tokyo Games, would skip the showpiece event. The news is the latest in a series of embarrassments for Tokyo organisers that have sparked outrage and comes just days after a well known musician was forced to step down as composer for the ceremony after old reports of his bullying and abusive behaviour surfaced. Earlier this year, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee resigned after making sexist remarks and Tokyo Olympics creative head followed after he made derogatory comments about a popular Japanese female entertainer. Tokyo Games organisers fired Kentaro Kobayashi on Thursday over a joke he made about the Holocaust as part of his comedy act in the 1990s that recently resurfaced in domestic media. "I offer my deep apology for causing trouble and worry for many people concerned as well as Tokyo residents and Japanese people when the opening ceremony is almost upon us," said a sombre Seiko Hashimoto, who heads the organising committee. Earlier, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, an international Jewish human rights organisation, released a statement saying Kobayashi's association with the Olympics would "insult the memory" of the six million Jewish people who perished in the Holocaust. Kobayashi apologised for his past comments in a statement. Former PM Abe, who famously dressed up as the titular plumber from video game Super Mario at the Rio Games to represent Japan, played an outsized role in attracting the Olympics to Tokyo. At the time of the bid, Abe and his supporters hoped the Olympics would parallel the 1964 Tokyo Games heralding the nation's revival after decades of economic stagnation and also mark its recovery from a devastating nuclear and natural disaster in 2011. But the spectacle of last-minute personnel changes, the resurfacing of past abusive comments and the looming presence of the pandemic threatened to turn the Olympics into a "PR disaster," said Bob Pickard, a veteran PR executive at Signal Leadership Communication. "Tokyo 2020 was supposed to be a global platform for the launch of a new Japan facing an international future with confidence. Instead, what we see here is the legacy of the old Japan's insular attitudes mired in past prejudices and dated stereotypes," he said. Also read | Tokyo Olympics: Canada, Australia to assemble with 10 percent of team at opening ceremony NHK said Abe decided against attending the ceremony after the Japanese government declared a state of emergency and virus restrictions over Tokyo. Abe's office could not immediately be reached on Thursday, a public holiday in Japan. The opening ceremony on Friday is set to be a subdued affair, with just 950 people - including only around 15 global leaders - set to attend. Spectators have been barred from most Olympic events as COVID-19 cases surge in the capital. First Lady Jill Biden lands in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon for the Games' opening ceremony, raising expectations she might also use her attendance to discuss vaccines with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Biden has been travelling across the United States urging more people to get inoculated. Only a third of Japanese have had at least one dose of the vaccine, fuelling public concerns that the Olympics could become a super-spreader event. In a recent poll, 68% of respondents expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organisers to control coronavirus infections, with 55% saying they opposed the Games going ahead. Already 87 Olympic-related personnel, including athletes, have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing athlete withdrawals and pushing teammates to isolate. In light of new cases reported in the Olympic village, the US gymnastics team moved into a hotel, a coach said in a Twitter exchange earlier this week. Olympic organisers referred Reuters questions on the topic to the US team. Olympics competition has already begun, with the Japanese women's softball team getting the hosts off to a winning start on Wednesday. Between matches in rural Fukushima, which was devastated by the 2011 nuclear disaster, softball players were on the lookout for a brown bear which had been spotted this week. "I'm kind of disappointed I didn't get to see it," US pitcher Monica Abbott said.

Olympics-Opening ceremony director fired over Holocaust joke on Games eve

The United States scored a 1-0 victory over Canada as US pitcher Monica Abbott dominated the Canadian batters from the start on the second day of softball at the Tokyo Games.

For seven innings, Canadian batters chased pitches off the plate and failed to make contact on 116 kilometres per hour tosses from one of the game's fastest throwers and a five-time Japanese league most valuable player.

Monica Abbott returned to the same spot on the bench with a toothful grin after her first six dazzling frames. She towelled sweat off her arms, placed a cold pack on the back of her neck and sipped fluids from her pink water bottle. The routine paid off.

Abbott struck out nine in all, walked three and gave up one hit.

After recording the game's final out, the 1.91-metre (6-foot, 3 inches) left-hander wrapped her arms around catcher Aubree Munro.

"For us to hold down a tough offence and let the defense work, it felt really good," Munro said afterwards.

U.S. center fielder Haylie McCleney reached on a bloop single and scored the lone run.

McCleney also threw out pinch runner Joey Lye to prevent her from scoring on a Sara Groenewegen double to right center.

Groenewegen, who returned after a four-inning, no-hit start on Wednesday, held the United States scoreless in the first two innings.

The second of five days of round-robin play leaves the U.S. at 2-0 in the standings and Canada 1-1. The top four out of six teams advance to medal games. Japan jumped to a 1-0 lead in Thursday's second game, with a few minutes of drizzle in the first innings forcing players to rush gear under tents. Play was not stopped.

Italy take on Australia later. The action breaks on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Games.

The United States scored a 1-0 victory over Canada as US pitcher Monica Abbott dominated the Canadian batters from the start on the second day of softball at the Tokyo Games.

The United States scored a 1-0 victory over Canada as US pitcher Monica Abbott dominated the Canadian batters from the start on the second day of softball at the Tokyo Games. For seven innings, Canadian batters chased pitches off the plate and failed to make contact on 116 kilometres per hour tosses from one of the game's fastest throwers and a five-time Japanese league most valuable player. Monica Abbott returned to the same spot on the bench with a toothful grin after her first six dazzling frames. She towelled sweat off her arms, placed a cold pack on the back of her neck and sipped fluids from her pink water bottle. The routine paid off. Abbott struck out nine in all, walked three and gave up one hit. After recording the game's final out, the 1.91-metre (6-foot, 3 inches) left-hander wrapped her arms around catcher Aubree Munro. "For us to hold down a tough offence and let the defense work, it felt really good," Munro said afterwards. U.S. center fielder Haylie McCleney reached on a bloop single and scored the lone run. McCleney also threw out pinch runner Joey Lye to prevent her from scoring on a Sara Groenewegen double to right center. Groenewegen, who returned after a four-inning, no-hit start on Wednesday, held the United States scoreless in the first two innings. The second of five days of round-robin play leaves the U.S. at 2-0 in the standings and Canada 1-1. The top four out of six teams advance to medal games. Japan jumped to a 1-0 lead in Thursday's second game, with a few minutes of drizzle in the first innings forcing players to rush gear under tents. Play was not stopped. Italy take on Australia later. The action breaks on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Games.

Tokyo Olympics: US beats Canada in Softball as Monica Abbott strikes out nine

Olympics starts in less than a day, 2 athletes have tested positive, a top official has been fired. Tokyo 2020 Chief has not ruled out a last-minute cancellation

Gravitas: Tokyo 2020: Rising Covid cases & mounting controversies

Canada and Australia may be sending some of their biggest&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;teams to the Tokyo&nbsp;Games&nbsp;but only a small fraction will attend Friday's opening ceremony, officials said on Thursday.

Around 30-40 athletes from the 370-strong team will be at the event in a largely empty Tokyo Olympic stadium, bar a few hundred officials, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said.

"Athletes are only arriving in the village five days before they compete," the COC said in a news release. "This means that there are less athletes in the village and that most of them are on the verge of competing.

"The focus of Team Canada remains on safety, performance, and adhering to the letter and spirit of the Tokyo 2020 playbooks."

Basketball player Miranda Ayim and rugby sevens co-captain Nathan Hirayama will be the flag bearers for Canada's biggest Olympic team since the 1984 Los Angeles Summer&nbsp;Games.

The Rio de Janeiro&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;had more than 12,000 athletes and team officials marching in the opening ceremony but with Tokyo's draconian COVID-19 measures it will be a far smaller number.

For&nbsp;Olympics-mad Australia, who have sent their biggest ever team to a&nbsp;Games&nbsp;held overseas, only some 50 athletes from their 470-plus delegation will march.

Team chief Ian Chesterman told athletes to still enjoy the moment despite a lack of spectators and the absence of the usual celebratory atmosphere in the stadium.

"My instruction to the team is to enjoy yourself. It has been a hell of a ride getting here," he told a news conference.

"Just enjoy the moment and soak it up. We are expecting around about 50 athletes to march and we are limited to six officials."

With COVID-19 restrictions having cut athletes' stay short in Tokyo -- they arrive shortly before their competition and leave soon after -- every team must accept a reduction of its team parade numbers.

For triple and long jump Olympic medallist Will Claye it means many fellow American athletes will miss out on a unique experience.

"Just (to) meet and take pictures with some of my idols in the sport," the 30-year-old told reporters, noting that in the past&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;he enjoyed getting the opportunity to spend some time with idols like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

"I think those are the memories that last a lifetime."

Canada and Australia may be sending some of their biggest Olympics teams to the Tokyo Games but only a small fraction will attend Friday's opening ceremony, officials said on Thursday.

Canada and Australia may be sending some of their biggest Olympics teams to the Tokyo Games but only a small fraction will attend Friday's opening ceremony, officials said on Thursday. Around 30-40 athletes from the 370-strong team will be at the event in a largely empty Tokyo Olympic stadium, bar a few hundred officials, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said. "Athletes are only arriving in the village five days before they compete," the COC said in a news release. "This means that there are less athletes in the village and that most of them are on the verge of competing. "The focus of Team Canada remains on safety, performance, and adhering to the letter and spirit of the Tokyo 2020 playbooks." Basketball player Miranda Ayim and rugby sevens co-captain Nathan Hirayama will be the flag bearers for Canada's biggest Olympic team since the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games. The Rio de Janeiro Olympics had more than 12,000 athletes and team officials marching in the opening ceremony but with Tokyo's draconian COVID-19 measures it will be a far smaller number. For Olympics-mad Australia, who have sent their biggest ever team to a Games held overseas, only some 50 athletes from their 470-plus delegation will march. Team chief Ian Chesterman told athletes to still enjoy the moment despite a lack of spectators and the absence of the usual celebratory atmosphere in the stadium. "My instruction to the team is to enjoy yourself. It has been a hell of a ride getting here," he told a news conference. "Just enjoy the moment and soak it up. We are expecting around about 50 athletes to march and we are limited to six officials." With COVID-19 restrictions having cut athletes' stay short in Tokyo -- they arrive shortly before their competition and leave soon after -- every team must accept a reduction of its team parade numbers. For triple and long jump Olympic medallist Will Claye it means many fellow American athletes will miss out on a unique experience. "Just (to) meet and take pictures with some of my idols in the sport," the 30-year-old told reporters, noting that in the past Olympics he enjoyed getting the opportunity to spend some time with idols like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. "I think those are the memories that last a lifetime."

Tokyo Olympics: Canada, Australia to assemble with 10 percent of team at opening ceremony

Australia's world number one Kaylee McKeown will pull out of the women's 200 meters medley at the Olympic Games over a scheduling conflict to focus on backstroke events, the national coach said on Thursday.

McKeown, 20, is ranked number one in three events coming into the Tokyo competition but the medley clashed with the 100m backstrokes, for which a tough competition is expected, head coach Rohan Taylor said.

McKeown's rivalry with Regan Smith is expected to figure prominently in Tokyo after the Australian snatched Smith's 100m backstroke world record at the Australian trials last month.

"You know, you got a rookie coming in and the&nbsp;Olympics, it's going to be a big experience for her, it's a big call," Taylor told reporters.

"They've gone for months talking about it and I respect that decision, they're going to focus on the backstrokes and medley relay."

The withdrawal could be a blow to Australia's hopes of taking on the United States in the pool, with the possible loss of a medal given McKeown's form.

The Queenslander was a highlight of the Olympic trials, setting a world record in the 100 meters backstroke and producing strong performances in both the 200m backstroke and 200m medley.

Taylor said McKeown was a newcomer but would be expected to tackle more events at future Games.

"So it's new to her, and I think emotionally, we need to respect that but if it's something she's not familiar with," he said.

"We need to make sure she's familiar with it because she is such a weapon in so many different facets."

Taylor said the team had had good preparations, with little interruption to training during the coronavirus pandemic.

"They just have that real, real competitive desire," he said.

"We've got a broader mix of depth and the types of athletes that I think can thrive in this environment, but they've got to prove it.

"So until they prove it. Yeah, we're very positive about how we're looking, but that's on paper."

Australia's world number one Kaylee McKeown will pull out of the women's 200 meters medley at the Olympic Games over a scheduling conflict to focus on backstroke events, the national coach said on Thursday.

Australia's world number one Kaylee McKeown will pull out of the women's 200 meters medley at the Olympic Games over a scheduling conflict to focus on backstroke events, the national coach said on Thursday. McKeown, 20, is ranked number one in three events coming into the Tokyo competition but the medley clashed with the 100m backstrokes, for which a tough competition is expected, head coach Rohan Taylor said. McKeown's rivalry with Regan Smith is expected to figure prominently in Tokyo after the Australian snatched Smith's 100m backstroke world record at the Australian trials last month. "You know, you got a rookie coming in and the Olympics, it's going to be a big experience for her, it's a big call," Taylor told reporters. "They've gone for months talking about it and I respect that decision, they're going to focus on the backstrokes and medley relay." The withdrawal could be a blow to Australia's hopes of taking on the United States in the pool, with the possible loss of a medal given McKeown's form. The Queenslander was a highlight of the Olympic trials, setting a world record in the 100 meters backstroke and producing strong performances in both the 200m backstroke and 200m medley. Taylor said McKeown was a newcomer but would be expected to tackle more events at future Games. "So it's new to her, and I think emotionally, we need to respect that but if it's something she's not familiar with," he said. "We need to make sure she's familiar with it because she is such a weapon in so many different facets." Taylor said the team had had good preparations, with little interruption to training during the coronavirus pandemic. "They just have that real, real competitive desire," he said. "We've got a broader mix of depth and the types of athletes that I think can thrive in this environment, but they've got to prove it. "So until they prove it. Yeah, we're very positive about how we're looking, but that's on paper."

Tokyo Olympics: Australia's Kaylee McKeown to withdraw from 200 medley

The tag of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) is given to those competitors who have come and ruled their game and set themselves in an alternate echelon contrasted with their competitors.&nbsp;

Gymnast Simone Biles brings out unadulterated bliss as she resists gravity on numerous occasions with beauty and balance.

Regardless of a defective beginning at the preliminaries, she is expected&nbsp;to burst through her opposition to one more gold medal, establishing her status as the best gymnast ever.&nbsp;

Biles&nbsp;has ruled her game like no other, starting when she was still an adolescent.

The 24-year-old US athlete has now been granted a specially designed G.O.A.T Twitter emoticon, which her fans can use during her Tokyo Olympics mission to root for her.&nbsp;

She joins commended stars like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes to have her GOAT emoticon, while likewise being the first woman and Olympian to do so.

The emoji is generated by typing #SimoneBiles or #Simone in Tweets.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Witness greatness 
Tweet with greatness<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SimoneBiles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SimoneBiles</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Simone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Simone</a> <a href="https://t.co/M6RKzP3KB6">pic.twitter.com/M6RKzP3KB6</a>
— Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSports/status/1417850103428169730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Biles lately started contending in a leotard enriched with silver rhinestones looking like a goat's head.&nbsp;

"I just hope that kids growing up watching this don't or aren't ashamed of being good at whatever they do," she said.

"I want kids to learn that, yes, it's okay to acknowledge that you're good or even great at something," she added.

Biles, 24, has not lost a competition since 2013 and is aiming to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic all-around golds in over 50 years as well as improve on her Rio haul of five medals, four of them gold.

She made two attempts at the Yurchenko Double Pike vault, rolling her landing on the first one but performing the second almost flawlessly, surprising the handful of watching media and officials,&nbsp;including one of her coaches.

The tag of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) is given to those competitors who have come and ruled their game and set themselves in an alternate echelon contrasted with their competitors.

The tag of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) is given to those competitors who have come and ruled their game and set themselves in an alternate echelon contrasted with their competitors. Gymnast Simone Biles brings out unadulterated bliss as she resists gravity on numerous occasions with beauty and balance. Regardless of a defective beginning at the preliminaries, she is expected to burst through her opposition to one more gold medal, establishing her status as the best gymnast ever. Biles has ruled her game like no other, starting when she was still an adolescent. The 24-year-old US athlete has now been granted a specially designed G.O.A.T Twitter emoticon, which her fans can use during her Tokyo Olympics mission to root for her. She joins commended stars like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes to have her GOAT emoticon, while likewise being the first woman and Olympian to do so. The emoji is generated by typing #SimoneBiles or #Simone in Tweets. Witness greatness Tweet with greatness#SimoneBiles#Simone pic.twitter.com/M6RKzP3KB6 — Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) July 21, 2021 × Biles lately started contending in a leotard enriched with silver rhinestones looking like a goat's head. "I just hope that kids growing up watching this don't or aren't ashamed of being good at whatever they do," she said. "I want kids to learn that, yes, it's okay to acknowledge that you're good or even great at something," she added. Biles, 24, has not lost a competition since 2013 and is aiming to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic all-around golds in over 50 years as well as improve on her Rio haul of five medals, four of them gold. She made two attempts at the Yurchenko Double Pike vault, rolling her landing on the first one but performing the second almost flawlessly, surprising the handful of watching media and officials, including one of her coaches.

Tokyo Olympics: Simone Biles becomes the first woman athlete to get a G.O.A.T emoticon

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) boss John&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;has defended his awkward exchange with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after drawing criticism on Thursday for publicly ordering her to attend the Tokyo Games opening ceremony.

Coates, one of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) most powerful executives, raised eyebrows when he told the premier at a media conference that she needed to attend Friday's ceremony along with other members of Australia's delegation.

The exchange came after Brisbane was named host of the 2032 Olympics.

“You are going to the opening ceremony,"&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;said to Palaszczuk, who travelled to Tokyo as a representative of Brisbane's bid.

"I am still the deputy chair of the candidature leadership group.

"And so far as I understand, there will be an opening and a closing ceremony in 2032, and all of you have got to get along there and understand the traditional parts of that, what’s involved in an opening ceremony.

"So none of you are staying and hiding in your rooms, all right."

Palaszczuk replied: “I don’t want to offend anybody, so..."

Coates's comments triggered outrage on social media, and he was accused of misogyny and "mansplaining" by some Australian media pundits.

"He gave a masterclass in how to be an arrogant powerbroker," academic Jenna Price wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Former Swimming Australia boss Leigh Russell said the exchange was "disgusting".

"And yet another example of how women are treated in sport,” she wrote on Twitter.

Coates&nbsp;said his comments had been "misinterpreted" by people who were not in the room.

“The premier and I have a long-standing and very successful relationship,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

“We both know the spirit of my remarks and I have no indication that she was offended in any way. Those in doubt should ask her."

Palaszczuk said there were no issues between her and&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;after the exchange.

"Yeah absolutely. He’s fantastic,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“If we didn’t have John&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;this will not have happened," she said of the successful Brisbane bid.

"John&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;has been the driving force behind us securing the Olympics."

Palaszczuk's trip to Japan was criticised by home media who questioned the need for her to be present in Tokyo while around 13 million Australians remain locked down due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

She had said she would not attend any events while in Tokyo apart from the bid team's presentation to the IOC on Wednesday, and would confine herself to her hotel.

Interviewed on an Australian breakfast TV show on the Nine Network on Thursday, Palaszczuk said in relation to the opening ceremony, she would "do whatever John&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;tells me to do."

"I am not going to offend the International Olympic Committee now that we have been awarded the Games," she added.

Coates&nbsp;has led the AOC for over 30 years and played a key role in Brisbane's winning bid.

In 2017, the AOC was hit by allegations of bullying and intimidation made by former staff, including former chief executive Fiona de Jong.

An independent review cleared the AOC of a bullying culture but criticised the conduct of some senior leaders in the organisation.&nbsp;Coates&nbsp;was not among the leaders criticised.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) boss John Coates has defended his awkward exchange with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after drawing criticism on Thursday for publicly ordering her to attend the Tokyo Games opening ceremony.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) boss John Coates has defended his awkward exchange with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after drawing criticism on Thursday for publicly ordering her to attend the Tokyo Games opening ceremony. Coates, one of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) most powerful executives, raised eyebrows when he told the premier at a media conference that she needed to attend Friday's ceremony along with other members of Australia's delegation. The exchange came after Brisbane was named host of the 2032 Olympics. “You are going to the opening ceremony," Coates said to Palaszczuk, who travelled to Tokyo as a representative of Brisbane's bid. "I am still the deputy chair of the candidature leadership group. "And so far as I understand, there will be an opening and a closing ceremony in 2032, and all of you have got to get along there and understand the traditional parts of that, what’s involved in an opening ceremony. "So none of you are staying and hiding in your rooms, all right." Palaszczuk replied: “I don’t want to offend anybody, so..." Coates's comments triggered outrage on social media, and he was accused of misogyny and "mansplaining" by some Australian media pundits. "He gave a masterclass in how to be an arrogant powerbroker," academic Jenna Price wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Former Swimming Australia boss Leigh Russell said the exchange was "disgusting". "And yet another example of how women are treated in sport,” she wrote on Twitter. Coates said his comments had been "misinterpreted" by people who were not in the room. “The premier and I have a long-standing and very successful relationship,” he said in a statement on Thursday. “We both know the spirit of my remarks and I have no indication that she was offended in any way. Those in doubt should ask her." Palaszczuk said there were no issues between her and Coates after the exchange. "Yeah absolutely. He’s fantastic,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “If we didn’t have John Coates this will not have happened," she said of the successful Brisbane bid. "John Coates has been the driving force behind us securing the Olympics." Palaszczuk's trip to Japan was criticised by home media who questioned the need for her to be present in Tokyo while around 13 million Australians remain locked down due to COVID-19 outbreaks. She had said she would not attend any events while in Tokyo apart from the bid team's presentation to the IOC on Wednesday, and would confine herself to her hotel. Interviewed on an Australian breakfast TV show on the Nine Network on Thursday, Palaszczuk said in relation to the opening ceremony, she would "do whatever John Coates tells me to do." "I am not going to offend the International Olympic Committee now that we have been awarded the Games," she added. Coates has led the AOC for over 30 years and played a key role in Brisbane's winning bid. In 2017, the AOC was hit by allegations of bullying and intimidation made by former staff, including former chief executive Fiona de Jong. An independent review cleared the AOC of a bullying culture but criticised the conduct of some senior leaders in the organisation. Coates was not among the leaders criticised.

John Coates slammed for 'mansplaining' to Queensland premier on opening ceremony

The Tokyo Organising Committee stated Thursday that Kentaro Kobayashi, the director of the Olympics opening ceremony, has been removed from his position following news reports concerning his past statements about the Holocaust.

According to Japanese media sites, in a screenplay for his comedy performance in 1998, Kobayashi made light of the Nazis' mass murder of 6 million Jews, stating, "Let's play Holocaust."&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-two-olympic-athletes-test-positive-for-covid-19-say-organisers-399588">Also read | Tokyo Olympics 2020: Two Olympic athletes test positive for COVID-19, say organisers</a> 
 
Kobayashi's remarks drew immediate condemnation, especially from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which criticised what it called anti-Semitic humour by the comedian.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kick-it-right-back-at-them-japan-pm-denies-being-pressurised-to-hold-tokyo-2020-399483">Also read | 'Kick it right back at them': Japan PM denies being pressurised to hold Tokyo 2020</a>

Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto told a briefing that Kentaro Kobayashi had been dismissed because of past comments that made fun of a tragedy.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, COVID-19 infections in Tokyo reached a six-month high, with 1,832 new cases reported just two days before the Games began.

Tokyo is currently in its fourth state of emergency, which will remain until August 22 and will span the entirety of the Olympics, which begin on Friday and end on August 8.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The Tokyo Organising Committee stated Thursday that Kentaro Kobayashi, the director of the Olympics opening ceremony, has been removed from his position following news reports concerning his past statements about the Holocaust.

The Tokyo Organising Committee stated Thursday that Kentaro Kobayashi, the director of the Olympics opening ceremony, has been removed from his position following news reports concerning his past statements about the Holocaust. According to Japanese media sites, in a screenplay for his comedy performance in 1998, Kobayashi made light of the Nazis' mass murder of 6 million Jews, stating, "Let's play Holocaust." Also read | Tokyo Olympics 2020: Two Olympic athletes test positive for COVID-19, say organisers Kobayashi's remarks drew immediate condemnation, especially from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which criticised what it called anti-Semitic humour by the comedian. Also read | 'Kick it right back at them': Japan PM denies being pressurised to hold Tokyo 2020 Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto told a briefing that Kentaro Kobayashi had been dismissed because of past comments that made fun of a tragedy. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, COVID-19 infections in Tokyo reached a six-month high, with 1,832 new cases reported just two days before the Games began. Tokyo is currently in its fourth state of emergency, which will remain until August 22 and will span the entirety of the Olympics, which begin on Friday and end on August 8. (With inputs from agencies)

Director of Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony ousted over past comments on Holocaust

Two athletes living in the Olympic village tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, according to Tokyo 2020 organisers.

The organisers revealed a total of 12 new positive cases, including the two athletes, increasing the total number of positive cases to 87.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, COVID-19 infections in Tokyo reached a six-month high, with 1,832 new cases reported just two days before the Games began. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-will-india-improve-its-medal-tally-at-olympics-399462" hreflang="en">Will India improve its medal tally at Olympics?</a>

Tokyo is currently in its fourth state of emergency, which will remain until August 22 and will span the entirety of the Olympics, which begin on Friday and end on August 8.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meet-the-oldest-athletes-in-tokyo-olympics-2020-399452">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meet-the-oldest-athletes-in-tokyo-olympics-2020-399452/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Cases among younger, unvaccinated persons are significantly increasing, according to experts, as Japan's vaccination campaign loses steam owing to supply concerns. 
 
Many of the serious cases are involving people in their fifties.&nbsp;

Japan's vaccination campaign started late and slowly but ramped up considerably in May for several weeks as the supply of imported vaccines stabilised and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's cabinet tried to speed up the campaign before the Olympics.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Two athletes living in the Olympic village tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, according to Tokyo 2020 organisers. The organisers revealed a total of 12 new positive cases, including the two athletes, increasing the total number of positive cases to 87.

Two athletes living in the Olympic village tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, according to Tokyo 2020 organisers. The organisers revealed a total of 12 new positive cases, including the two athletes, increasing the total number of positive cases to 87. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, COVID-19 infections in Tokyo reached a six-month high, with 1,832 new cases reported just two days before the Games began. Also read | Will India improve its medal tally at Olympics? Tokyo is currently in its fourth state of emergency, which will remain until August 22 and will span the entirety of the Olympics, which begin on Friday and end on August 8. WATCH | Cases among younger, unvaccinated persons are significantly increasing, according to experts, as Japan's vaccination campaign loses steam owing to supply concerns. Many of the serious cases are involving people in their fifties. Japan's vaccination campaign started late and slowly but ramped up considerably in May for several weeks as the supply of imported vaccines stabilised and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's cabinet tried to speed up the campaign before the Olympics. (With inputs from agencies)

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Two athletes test positive for COVID-19, say organisers

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday.

Japan's 8-1 victory, in a sport returning to the Olympic fold for the first time since 2008, took place two days before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games.

Spectators were absent under the stringent coronavirus measures in place for an Olympics that is facing widespread opposition from the public in Japan, where infections are rising.

Japan has had to wait 13 years to defend the title they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they dominated their Australian opponents in Fukushima, the site of the tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in 2011.

Their toughest challenge is likely to come from the United States, which play Italy in the second game on Wednesday.

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday.

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday. Japan's 8-1 victory, in a sport returning to the Olympic fold for the first time since 2008, took place two days before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games. Spectators were absent under the stringent coronavirus measures in place for an Olympics that is facing widespread opposition from the public in Japan, where infections are rising. Japan has had to wait 13 years to defend the title they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they dominated their Australian opponents in Fukushima, the site of the tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in 2011. Their toughest challenge is likely to come from the United States, which play Italy in the second game on Wednesday.

Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1

Gold medal favourites the United States began their bid for a fifth women's Olympic football title with an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Sweden, while Team GB kicked off their campaign at the Tokyo Games by beating Chile on Wednesday and the Netherlands put 10 past fellow debutants Zambia.

The US have won four of six Olympic titles since women's football was introduced to the programme in 1996 but suffered a heavy defeat by the same team that knocked them out on penalties in the quarter-finals in Rio.

Stina Blackstenius scored twice before substitute Lina Hurtig added a third for 2016 silver medallists Sweden at a game played in an empty Tokyo Stadium due to strict Covid-19 restrictions.

The loss ended a 44-match unbeaten run for the Americans dating back to the start of 2019. It was also only the second time they had lost a game in 90 minutes at the Olympics.

"They're (Sweden) one of the best teams in the world," said US forward Megan Rapinoe. "There's really no time to dwell or think about if Sweden is living in our heads or not. We've got another game in three days."

The Dutch made history in Miyagi as Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedama scored four times in a remarkable 10-3 thumping of Zambia.

Lieke Martens netted twice, while Shanice van de Sanden, Jill Roord, Lineth Beerensteyn and Victoria Pevlova also got on the scoresheet.

It was the highest-scoring game in women's Olympic history and the most scored by one team in a match, but Zambia avoided a record margin of defeat as Barbra Banda scored twice late on to secure a hat-trick.

The largest win remains Germany's 8-0 thrashing of China in 2004.

In Sapporo, Great Britain won their Group E opener 2-0, with Manchester City striker Ellen White scoring twice and having a goal disallowed by VAR for offside.

Hege Riise's side&nbsp;are bidding to become the first British team to win an Olympic football medal.

"When you get into a competition, it's really important you win that first game," said Team GB captain Steph Houghton.

"There's still a lot of stuff to improve on but three points on the board, we're really pleased."

Brazil star Marta bagged two goals in a 5-0 rout of China in Group F, meaning she has now scored in five straight Olympics.

Debinha scored in between Marta's brace before a late Andressa penalty and Beatriz strike completed a comprehensive victory in Rifu.&nbsp;

In the other Group E game, hosts Japan rescued a 1-1 draw with Canada as Aston Villa's Mana Iwabuchi scored an 84th-minute equaliser.

Christine Sinclair had put the Canadians in front, marking her 300th appearance for her country with a record-extending 187th international goal.

Australia sit second in the early Group D table behind Sweden after Sam Kerr found the net in a 2-1 victory over New Zealand.

&nbsp;

Gold medal favourites the United States began their bid for a fifth women's Olympic football title with an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Sweden, while Team GB kicked off their campaign at the Tokyo Games by beating Chile on Wednesday and the Netherlands put 10 past fellow debutants Zambia.

Gold medal favourites the United States began their bid for a fifth women's Olympic football title with an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Sweden, while Team GB kicked off their campaign at the Tokyo Games by beating Chile on Wednesday and the Netherlands put 10 past fellow debutants Zambia. The US have won four of six Olympic titles since women's football was introduced to the programme in 1996 but suffered a heavy defeat by the same team that knocked them out on penalties in the quarter-finals in Rio. Stina Blackstenius scored twice before substitute Lina Hurtig added a third for 2016 silver medallists Sweden at a game played in an empty Tokyo Stadium due to strict Covid-19 restrictions. The loss ended a 44-match unbeaten run for the Americans dating back to the start of 2019. It was also only the second time they had lost a game in 90 minutes at the Olympics. "They're (Sweden) one of the best teams in the world," said US forward Megan Rapinoe. "There's really no time to dwell or think about if Sweden is living in our heads or not. We've got another game in three days." The Dutch made history in Miyagi as Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedama scored four times in a remarkable 10-3 thumping of Zambia. Lieke Martens netted twice, while Shanice van de Sanden, Jill Roord, Lineth Beerensteyn and Victoria Pevlova also got on the scoresheet. It was the highest-scoring game in women's Olympic history and the most scored by one team in a match, but Zambia avoided a record margin of defeat as Barbra Banda scored twice late on to secure a hat-trick. The largest win remains Germany's 8-0 thrashing of China in 2004. In Sapporo, Great Britain won their Group E opener 2-0, with Manchester City striker Ellen White scoring twice and having a goal disallowed by VAR for offside. Hege Riise's side are bidding to become the first British team to win an Olympic football medal. "When you get into a competition, it's really important you win that first game," said Team GB captain Steph Houghton. "There's still a lot of stuff to improve on but three points on the board, we're really pleased." Brazil star Marta bagged two goals in a 5-0 rout of China in Group F, meaning she has now scored in five straight Olympics. Debinha scored in between Marta's brace before a late Andressa penalty and Beatriz strike completed a comprehensive victory in Rifu. In the other Group E game, hosts Japan rescued a 1-1 draw with Canada as Aston Villa's Mana Iwabuchi scored an 84th-minute equaliser. Christine Sinclair had put the Canadians in front, marking her 300th appearance for her country with a record-extending 187th international goal. Australia sit second in the early Group D table behind Sweden after Sam Kerr found the net in a 2-1 victory over New Zealand.

USA women thumped while Dutch score 10 in Olympic football

After a decision of member nations of the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo, Brisbane was formally awarded hosting rights for the 2032 Olympic Games.&nbsp;

The Olympic Games will land on Australia’s shores for a third time,&nbsp;before this Melbourne held the Games in 1956 and Sydney hosted them in 2000.

“The International Olympic Committee has the honour of announcing that the Games of the XXXV Olympiad in 2032 are awarded to Brisbane, Australia,” said IOC President Thomas Bach after the meeting, with the words marked by a massive fireworks display over the Brisbane River.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-sports-start-with-a-softball-game-japan-routs-australia-8-1-399363" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1</a>

According to Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates, the region already possesses roughly 80% of the requisite infrastructure to hold a competition, thanks in part to the Gold Coast's hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.&nbsp;

The winning bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 11 years comes after it was granted preferred bidder status, meaning no other cities were competing.&nbsp;

Brisbane appeared to be a genuine possibility after the IOC's 15-strong executive board unanimously proposed it as the sole candidate for 2032 in June.

The IOC has now confirmed hosts for the next three Summer Olympics, with Paris hosting the event in 2024 and Los Angeles hosting the tournament in 2028.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After a decision of member nations of the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo, Brisbane was formally awarded hosting rights for the 2032 Olympic Games. The Olympic Games will land on Australia’s shores for a third time, before this Melbourne held the Games in 1956 and Sydney hosted them in 2000.

After a decision of member nations of the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo, Brisbane was formally awarded hosting rights for the 2032 Olympic Games. The Olympic Games will land on Australia’s shores for a third time, before this Melbourne held the Games in 1956 and Sydney hosted them in 2000. “The International Olympic Committee has the honour of announcing that the Games of the XXXV Olympiad in 2032 are awarded to Brisbane, Australia,” said IOC President Thomas Bach after the meeting, with the words marked by a massive fireworks display over the Brisbane River. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1 According to Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates, the region already possesses roughly 80% of the requisite infrastructure to hold a competition, thanks in part to the Gold Coast's hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The winning bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 11 years comes after it was granted preferred bidder status, meaning no other cities were competing. Brisbane appeared to be a genuine possibility after the IOC's 15-strong executive board unanimously proposed it as the sole candidate for 2032 in June. The IOC has now confirmed hosts for the next three Summer Olympics, with Paris hosting the event in 2024 and Los Angeles hosting the tournament in 2028. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games

A pair of goals from Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius spelled catastrophe for the United States on Wednesday, as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in their Tokyo 2020 debut.

Fifth-ranked Sweden put the pressure on almost immediately with three shots in the first eight minutes, as the four-time Olympic gold medalists showed little sign of the stellar unbeaten run they have enjoyed since 2019.

Forward Stina Blackstenius converted in the 25th minute, rocketing a header past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher with an assist from Sofia Jakobsson. The goalie had five saves in the first half as a dominant Swedish forward line crashed through the Americans' defenses.

Midfielder Rose Lavelle nearly equalized with a header in minute 45 off a corner kick from Christen Press but hit the post.

The addition of veteran midfielder Julie Ertz did little to revive the U.S. in the second half, as Blackstenius again scored in the 54th minute.

The match was personal for Team USA: The Swedes knocked the four-time World Cup winners out of the tournament on penalties in the quarter-finals in 2016.

But their much-hoped-for revenge in front of 48,000 empty seats inside the Tokyo Stadium was not to be, as forward Christen Press missed a wide-open net at close range midway through the second half.

Swedish midfielder Lina Hurtig then heaped on more pain with a clinical header to give her side a three-goal cushion a minute later, ending the United States' 44-game unbeaten streak.

"We (have) developed our game and our play," Blackstenius said after the match. "We have so much quality in every player. Every player is also very different from the other."

The Rio defeat marked the U.S. team's earliest exit in Olympic history, after previously reaching the final of every edition of the Games since 1996 when the women's event was introduced.

The two sides drew 1-1 in an April friendly, the only blemish to the United States' 2021 record of 11 wins in 12 matches and a prescient warning of the challenges the team would face in their 2020 Tokyo kickoff.

The defeat was the United States' first under head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who took over from Jill Ellis in 2019.

"We played a little bit tight and just hurt ourselves a lot," said 2012 gold medallist and veteran forward Megan Rapinoe. "They took their chances, got into better space, and inevitably scored more goals."

The pandemic-postponed Games kicked off earlier Wednesday with a victory for the Olympic hosts, as Japan's softball team walloped Australia 8-1 at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.

The United States next face New Zealand in the group stage, while Sweden play Australia, both on Saturday.

A pair of goals from Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius spelled catastrophe for the United States on Wednesday, as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in their Tokyo 2020 debut.

A pair of goals from Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius spelled catastrophe for the United States on Wednesday, as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in their Tokyo 2020 debut. Fifth-ranked Sweden put the pressure on almost immediately with three shots in the first eight minutes, as the four-time Olympic gold medalists showed little sign of the stellar unbeaten run they have enjoyed since 2019. Forward Stina Blackstenius converted in the 25th minute, rocketing a header past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher with an assist from Sofia Jakobsson. The goalie had five saves in the first half as a dominant Swedish forward line crashed through the Americans' defenses. Midfielder Rose Lavelle nearly equalized with a header in minute 45 off a corner kick from Christen Press but hit the post. The addition of veteran midfielder Julie Ertz did little to revive the U.S. in the second half, as Blackstenius again scored in the 54th minute. The match was personal for Team USA: The Swedes knocked the four-time World Cup winners out of the tournament on penalties in the quarter-finals in 2016. But their much-hoped-for revenge in front of 48,000 empty seats inside the Tokyo Stadium was not to be, as forward Christen Press missed a wide-open net at close range midway through the second half. Swedish midfielder Lina Hurtig then heaped on more pain with a clinical header to give her side a three-goal cushion a minute later, ending the United States' 44-game unbeaten streak. "We (have) developed our game and our play," Blackstenius said after the match. "We have so much quality in every player. Every player is also very different from the other." The Rio defeat marked the U.S. team's earliest exit in Olympic history, after previously reaching the final of every edition of the Games since 1996 when the women's event was introduced. The two sides drew 1-1 in an April friendly, the only blemish to the United States' 2021 record of 11 wins in 12 matches and a prescient warning of the challenges the team would face in their 2020 Tokyo kickoff. The defeat was the United States' first under head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who took over from Jill Ellis in 2019. "We played a little bit tight and just hurt ourselves a lot," said 2012 gold medallist and veteran forward Megan Rapinoe. "They took their chances, got into better space, and inevitably scored more goals." The pandemic-postponed Games kicked off earlier Wednesday with a victory for the Olympic hosts, as Japan's softball team walloped Australia 8-1 at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium. The United States next face New Zealand in the group stage, while Sweden play Australia, both on Saturday.

Football: Sweden's women stun U.S. with 3-0 thrashing in Tokyo Olympics opener

Putting all rumours to rest, Japan’s Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, has denied being pressurised by the International Olympic Committee for holding the event in Tokyo this year.

"We raised our hands and we sought the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/tokyo-olympics">Olympics</a> because we wanted to do it," Suga said. "If they tried to force something on me, I'd kick it right back at them."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-will-india-improve-its-medal-tally-at-olympics-399462" hreflang="en">Will India improve its medal tally at Olympics?</a>

It was rumoured that the newly-elected PM was pressurised into organising the Tokyo 2020 Games, despite an increase of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus cases</a> in the city.

The Japanese capital city has seen almost 1,000 new daily infections in the past few days. Authorities have reported more than 70 cases, even in the Olympic Village. This has raised concerns about Tokyo 2020 becoming a breeding ground for Covid infections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meet-the-oldest-athletes-in-tokyo-olympics-2020-399452">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meet-the-oldest-athletes-in-tokyo-olympics-2020-399452/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Concerned by the increasing infections, the chief of the organising committee for the&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics&nbsp;Toshiro Muto said, "We can't predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases."

However, IOC chief, Thomas Bach has claimed that Tokyo 2020 are by far the safest and most restrictive game of the world. Suga, too, has assured locals that Tokyo is "in the right place, and we're ready to go".

Addressing the issue of cancelling the games, Suga denied any such plans and said, "the simplest thing and the easiest thing is to quit."&nbsp;However, he also added that "the government's job is to tackle challenges".

Putting all rumours to rest, Japan’s Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, has denied being pressurised by the International Olympic Committee for holding the event in Tokyo this year.

Putting all rumours to rest, Japan’s Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, has denied being pressurised by the International Olympic Committee for holding the event in Tokyo this year. "We raised our hands and we sought the Olympics because we wanted to do it," Suga said. "If they tried to force something on me, I'd kick it right back at them." Also read | Will India improve its medal tally at Olympics? It was rumoured that the newly-elected PM was pressurised into organising the Tokyo 2020 Games, despite an increase of coronavirus cases in the city. The Japanese capital city has seen almost 1,000 new daily infections in the past few days. Authorities have reported more than 70 cases, even in the Olympic Village. This has raised concerns about Tokyo 2020 becoming a breeding ground for Covid infections. WATCH | Concerned by the increasing infections, the chief of the organising committee for the Tokyo Olympics Toshiro Muto said, "We can't predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases." However, IOC chief, Thomas Bach has claimed that Tokyo 2020 are by far the safest and most restrictive game of the world. Suga, too, has assured locals that Tokyo is "in the right place, and we're ready to go". Addressing the issue of cancelling the games, Suga denied any such plans and said, "the simplest thing and the easiest thing is to quit." However, he also added that "the government's job is to tackle challenges".

'Kick it right back at them': Japan PM denies being pressurised to hold Tokyo 2020

Coronavirus cases among Olympic contenders and their support staff&nbsp;are on the rise and around 15% of those are unvaccinated. This is leading to admonitions from medical experts about potential far-reaching consequences.&nbsp;

Set to start officially on Friday with the opening ceremony, the Tokyo&nbsp;Olympic games were promoted as safe from any danger by organisers.

However, they have so far been tormented by Covid infections among competitors, hotel workers, and others associated with the event and many of those partaking have not been vaccinated.&nbsp;

A total of 67 cases have been detected among those certified for the Games since most competitors and authorities started showing up on July 1, authorities said on Tuesday. The top Tokyo Games official&nbsp;didn't rule out dropping the event completely if cases&nbsp;spike.&nbsp;

"You're now introducing risk factors from elsewhere," Dr. Nitin Mohan, a public health consultant, revealed to CBC News.

"Somewhere there will be a breaking point."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-clinches-third-olympics-after-brisbane-declared-host-of-2032-games-399398" hreflang="en">Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games</a>

A coach with Uganda's crew tested positive on landing in Narita air terminal and isolated at a&nbsp;facility. The remainder of the group headed by transport for their host city, Izumisano, close to Osaka in western Japan.&nbsp;

Seven staff at a hotel in Hamamatsu, focal Japan, where many Brazilian competitors are remaining, tested positive, a city official said.&nbsp;

Eight competitors from the Kenya women's rugby crew are named close contacts after a positive Covid case is found on their trip to Tokyo, said an official&nbsp;with the southwestern city of Kurume.

Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur tested positive for COVID-19 before his takeoff for Tokyo, the Australian Olympic Committee said.

An individual from the Nigerian Olympics contingent is in a medical clinic subsequent to testing positive at Narita air terminal, as per media reports.

Below are the other main cases.&nbsp;

JULY 17 - Fifteen people test positive for the virus, the organisers say, including the first case at the athletes' village - a visitor from abroad involved in organising the Games. The rest are two members of the media, seven contractors, and five members of the Games personnel.

JULY 18 - Ten people, including two South African male soccer players staying at the athletes' village, tested positive for the virus, organizers say. This is the first time athletes have been found positive within the village. The others are one athlete under a 14-day quarantine period, one member of the media, one contractor, and five Games personnel.

JULY 19 - Three people - one member of the Games personnel, one member of the media, and one contractor - tested positive for the virus. Twenty-one people in the South African soccer delegation are categorised as close contacts, following positive test results for two soccer players from that country. The number of close contacts is later revised down to 18.

Those identified as close contacts can still take part in the competition if they are found negative in a test conducted within six hours of the start of their event.

An alternate on the U.S. women's gymnastics team tests positive and another alternate is close contact, USA Gymnastics said. They remain at the team's training camp just east of Tokyo.

JULY 20 - Nine people, including one athlete staying at the Olympic village, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The other eight were a volunteer worker, a member of the Games personnel, and six contractors, according to Reuters.

Four competitors have tested positive up until this point — out of the 11,000 contenders expected to remain in the Olympic town.&nbsp;

In one case, the initial six individuals from Brazil's judo crew who had arrived in Tokyo were isolated after COVID-19 cases were found among the staff at an inn in Hamamatsu, southwest of Tokyo.

"Tokyo is undergoing a surge, and to bring in people from all over, with all the different challenges they have, into a country and a city that's already having its own challenges that's definitely not a public health move. Still, if the Games can maintain fairly high restrictions, the event should be able to avoid becoming a "total disaster," said Dr. Andrew Morris.

A few cases among members are not out of the ordinary, Morris said, however, the possibility of the Olympics fuelling a mass-transmission is improbable.&nbsp;

"If there is, it's going to be&nbsp;breaches of protocol in the Athletes' Village," &nbsp;he added.

Coronavirus cases among Olympic contenders and their support staff are on the rise and around 15% of those are unvaccinated. This is leading to admonitions from medical experts about potential far-reaching consequences.

Coronavirus cases among Olympic contenders and their support staff are on the rise and around 15% of those are unvaccinated. This is leading to admonitions from medical experts about potential far-reaching consequences. Set to start officially on Friday with the opening ceremony, the Tokyo Olympic games were promoted as safe from any danger by organisers. However, they have so far been tormented by Covid infections among competitors, hotel workers, and others associated with the event and many of those partaking have not been vaccinated. A total of 67 cases have been detected among those certified for the Games since most competitors and authorities started showing up on July 1, authorities said on Tuesday. The top Tokyo Games official didn't rule out dropping the event completely if cases spike. "You're now introducing risk factors from elsewhere," Dr. Nitin Mohan, a public health consultant, revealed to CBC News. "Somewhere there will be a breaking point." ALSO READ: Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games A coach with Uganda's crew tested positive on landing in Narita air terminal and isolated at a facility. The remainder of the group headed by transport for their host city, Izumisano, close to Osaka in western Japan. Seven staff at a hotel in Hamamatsu, focal Japan, where many Brazilian competitors are remaining, tested positive, a city official said. Eight competitors from the Kenya women's rugby crew are named close contacts after a positive Covid case is found on their trip to Tokyo, said an official with the southwestern city of Kurume. Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur tested positive for COVID-19 before his takeoff for Tokyo, the Australian Olympic Committee said. An individual from the Nigerian Olympics contingent is in a medical clinic subsequent to testing positive at Narita air terminal, as per media reports. Below are the other main cases. JULY 17 - Fifteen people test positive for the virus, the organisers say, including the first case at the athletes' village - a visitor from abroad involved in organising the Games. The rest are two members of the media, seven contractors, and five members of the Games personnel. JULY 18 - Ten people, including two South African male soccer players staying at the athletes' village, tested positive for the virus, organizers say. This is the first time athletes have been found positive within the village. The others are one athlete under a 14-day quarantine period, one member of the media, one contractor, and five Games personnel. JULY 19 - Three people - one member of the Games personnel, one member of the media, and one contractor - tested positive for the virus. Twenty-one people in the South African soccer delegation are categorised as close contacts, following positive test results for two soccer players from that country. The number of close contacts is later revised down to 18. Those identified as close contacts can still take part in the competition if they are found negative in a test conducted within six hours of the start of their event. An alternate on the U.S. women's gymnastics team tests positive and another alternate is close contact, USA Gymnastics said. They remain at the team's training camp just east of Tokyo. JULY 20 - Nine people, including one athlete staying at the Olympic village, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The other eight were a volunteer worker, a member of the Games personnel, and six contractors, according to Reuters. Four competitors have tested positive up until this point — out of the 11,000 contenders expected to remain in the Olympic town. In one case, the initial six individuals from Brazil's judo crew who had arrived in Tokyo were isolated after COVID-19 cases were found among the staff at an inn in Hamamatsu, southwest of Tokyo. "Tokyo is undergoing a surge, and to bring in people from all over, with all the different challenges they have, into a country and a city that's already having its own challenges that's definitely not a public health move. Still, if the Games can maintain fairly high restrictions, the event should be able to avoid becoming a "total disaster," said Dr. Andrew Morris. A few cases among members are not out of the ordinary, Morris said, however, the possibility of the Olympics fuelling a mass-transmission is improbable. "If there is, it's going to be breaches of protocol in the Athletes' Village," he added.

Tokyo Olympics: Situation worsens amid raging COVID-19 pandemic as cases rise to 67

Weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future at the Tokyo Games, following decades dogged by corruption and doping scandals.

A pure strength and technique event, exemplifying the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- "Faster, Higher, Stronger" -- it was one of the original sports at the first modern Olympics in 1896.

But 125 years later it faces expulsion from Paris 2024 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) repeatedly warning the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) that the sport's Olympic status is hanging by a thread.

Weightlifting desperately needs a clean Games, but even that may not be enough to save it from the axe.

"The situation is becoming more and more grave," warned the IOC President Thomas Bach at the end of February.

"The executive committee expresses its extreme concern at the lack of significant changes with regard to the management and the culture within the IWF," Bach said.

"Many requested changes have been ignored by the IWF despite all the warnings we issued."

The IOC's patience has clearly almost run out for a sport that has recorded 110 doping offences at the Olympics -- more than a quarter of the total ever recorded across all sports -- and has seen 49 athletes stripped of their medals, according to an AFP count.

In order to distance itself from doping, weightlifting first changed all its bodyweight categories after the 1992 Barcelona Games so new "clean" records would be set.

Sadly, the exercise had to be repeated in 1998 and again after the Asian Games of 2018.

"If these concerns are not addressed in a satisfactory and timely way, the IOC executive committee will have to review the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Paris 2024 and future Olympic Games."

Culture of corruption

An explosive documentary by German TV channel ARD in January 2020 blew the lid off what it described as a "culture of corruption" running through the sport.

High-level athletes, it alleged, had been allowed to skirt doping controls and had seen their adverse test results altered in exchange for bribes.

Tamas Ajan, the IWF's long-standing Hungarian president, rejected the accusations as "lies" before resigning.

Five months later, Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren delivered a damning report spotlighting 40 positive doping controls that had been covered up by the IWF, and ex-boss Ajan.

The IOC ordered the IWF to implement wide-ranging reforms and last month it held a one-day congress to try to ratify a new constitution, but it ended in stalemate.

The IWF will reportedly reconvene in Doha in August to try again, but unless the deadlock can be broken -- and with more than 50 member federations reportedly dissenting that looks unlikely -- weightlifting could find itself out of the Olympic fold.

It will hardly come as a surprise because, even before the ARD revelations, powerhouse lifting nations such as China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey had all suffered suspensions from international competition for repeated doping violations.

Weightlifters from Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia and Romania will not be on the stage at the Tokyo International Forum for the same reason.

And even if these Olympics, which begin on Saturday and run until August 4, go off without a doping hitch, Paris 2024 will still see a reduced weightlifting programme.

The IOC has already decided to shed four of the 13 weight divisions contested in Tokyo with the number of athletes slashed from 196 to 120. In Rio five years ago there were 260.

But Tokyo looks increasingly like being weightlifting's Olympic swansong if the IWF cannot get its tainted house in order.

"Some sports are considered to be more at risk than others (from doping) and, of course, the emphasis is on them," Olivier Niggli, the general manager of WADA, told AFP ahead of the Tokyo Games.

"Weightlifting is one of them."

&nbsp;

Weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future at the Tokyo Games, following decades dogged by corruption and doping scandals. A pure strength and technique event, exemplifying the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- "Faster, Higher, Stronger" -- it was one of the original sports at the first modern Olympics in 1896.

Weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future at the Tokyo Games, following decades dogged by corruption and doping scandals. A pure strength and technique event, exemplifying the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- "Faster, Higher, Stronger" -- it was one of the original sports at the first modern Olympics in 1896. But 125 years later it faces expulsion from Paris 2024 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) repeatedly warning the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) that the sport's Olympic status is hanging by a thread. Weightlifting desperately needs a clean Games, but even that may not be enough to save it from the axe. "The situation is becoming more and more grave," warned the IOC President Thomas Bach at the end of February. "The executive committee expresses its extreme concern at the lack of significant changes with regard to the management and the culture within the IWF," Bach said. "Many requested changes have been ignored by the IWF despite all the warnings we issued." The IOC's patience has clearly almost run out for a sport that has recorded 110 doping offences at the Olympics -- more than a quarter of the total ever recorded across all sports -- and has seen 49 athletes stripped of their medals, according to an AFP count. In order to distance itself from doping, weightlifting first changed all its bodyweight categories after the 1992 Barcelona Games so new "clean" records would be set. Sadly, the exercise had to be repeated in 1998 and again after the Asian Games of 2018. "If these concerns are not addressed in a satisfactory and timely way, the IOC executive committee will have to review the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Paris 2024 and future Olympic Games." Culture of corruption An explosive documentary by German TV channel ARD in January 2020 blew the lid off what it described as a "culture of corruption" running through the sport. High-level athletes, it alleged, had been allowed to skirt doping controls and had seen their adverse test results altered in exchange for bribes. Tamas Ajan, the IWF's long-standing Hungarian president, rejected the accusations as "lies" before resigning. Five months later, Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren delivered a damning report spotlighting 40 positive doping controls that had been covered up by the IWF, and ex-boss Ajan. The IOC ordered the IWF to implement wide-ranging reforms and last month it held a one-day congress to try to ratify a new constitution, but it ended in stalemate. The IWF will reportedly reconvene in Doha in August to try again, but unless the deadlock can be broken -- and with more than 50 member federations reportedly dissenting that looks unlikely -- weightlifting could find itself out of the Olympic fold. It will hardly come as a surprise because, even before the ARD revelations, powerhouse lifting nations such as China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey had all suffered suspensions from international competition for repeated doping violations. Weightlifters from Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia and Romania will not be on the stage at the Tokyo International Forum for the same reason. And even if these Olympics, which begin on Saturday and run until August 4, go off without a doping hitch, Paris 2024 will still see a reduced weightlifting programme. The IOC has already decided to shed four of the 13 weight divisions contested in Tokyo with the number of athletes slashed from 196 to 120. In Rio five years ago there were 260. But Tokyo looks increasingly like being weightlifting's Olympic swansong if the IWF cannot get its tainted house in order. "Some sports are considered to be more at risk than others (from doping) and, of course, the emphasis is on them," Olivier Niggli, the general manager of WADA, told AFP ahead of the Tokyo Games. "Weightlifting is one of them."

Doping-tainted weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future

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