Tokyo 2020: Avoiding the distractions

For the athlete, the challenge is to treat the Olympic Games like it was one of so many events they have competed in. Stay calm, follow the processes, and execute the plan. Simple enough, but when you work your whole life to be the only representative for your country, the pressure can derail the train.

When the Sailing events begin July 25, the need to avoid distractions will present a heightened challenge at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Here are some of them:

The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 1,149 daily coronavirus cases July 14, topping 1,000 for the first time since May 13. The capital, under a fourth COVID-19 state of emergency, saw new cases in Tokyo exceeding the week-earlier figure for the 25th straight day, up 30.3 percent from the previous week.

Those in their 20s accounted for the largest share of infections, followed by those in their 30s, and 40s. A government advisory panel on the COVID-19 response said the virus is “very clearly” spreading in the capital and the surrounding metropolitan areas, raising concerns about the impact on the rest of the country. – Full report
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Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics will put their medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus, marking a “very significant change” to traditional medal ceremonies in the 339 events.

“They will be presented to the athlete on a tray and then the athlete will take the medal him or herself,” explained International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. “It will be made sure that the person who will put the medal on tray will do so only with disinfected gloves so that the athlete can be sure that nobody touched them before.”

The IOC had previously said medalists and ceremony officials would have to wear masks. – Full report
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One of the most symbolic and important parts of the Opening Ceremony – the Olympic oath – has been significantly revised in order to highlight the importance of solidarity, inclusion, non-discrimination and equality.

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the first gender-equal Games, with female athlete places at almost 49 per cent. Additionally, the IOC’s protocol guidelines have been changed to allow one male and one female athlete to jointly carry their country’s flag during the Opening Ceremony. – Full report

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn
Men’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Women’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Original dates: July 24 to August 9, 2020
Revised dates: July 23 to August 8, 2021

Details: https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/