This archive report was first published on 5 July 2021.
On July 23, 2021, the Tokyo Games will officially open, with NBA star Rui Hachimura and twice-world-champion wrestler Yui Susaki carrying Japan's flag.
However, with the COVID-19 pandemic still a concern, organisers are considering limiting the number of spectators at Olympic events to reduce infection risks.
On Monday, July 5, 2021, Games chiefs announced that they would delay the announcement of ticket lottery results for oversubscribed events until Saturday, just two weeks before the opening ceremony.
For Rui Hachimura, carrying Japan's flag is a great honour, and he hopes it will inspire kids and others in Japan to watch the Olympics and take an interest in basketball and sports.
‘I'd love this to be an opportunity for kids and everyone else in Japan to watch me and my teammates playing at the Olympics, and take even more of an interest in basketball and sport as a whole,' Hachimura said in a statement.
Despite the excitement around the Olympics, concerns about the pandemic are growing, with local media reporting that the opening ceremony may be half an hour longer to allow for COVID-19 countermeasures such as distancing.
However, it remains unclear how many seats, if any, will be filled at the national stadium, with organisers setting a limit of 10,000 domestic fans, or half of each venue's capacity.
Games president Seiko Hashimoto warned that 'having no spectators is an option,' and with Japan's coronavirus outbreak not as severe as in some countries, but still a concern, experts say another wave could stretch medical services as the Olympics begin.
