Olympics

The head of the Imperial Palace in Japan says Emperor Naruhito is “extremely worried” that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics could accelerate the spread of the coronavirus.

According to event organizers, the Olympic Games will ban alcohol at venues and ask fans to refrain from cheering in a bid to prevent another surge of coronavirus infections in Japan.

Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard from New Zealand will be the first transgender athlete to ever compete at an Olympic Games.

Toyko Olympics organizers have set a limit of 50% of capacity up to a maximum of 10,000 fans for all Olympic venues.

Japan’s top medical adviser said the safest way to hold the Tokyo Olympics is without fans, seeming to put him at odds with organizers.

Simone Biles looks ready for Tokyo. So it seems, are the leading contenders vying to join the reigning world and Olympic gymnastics champion in Japan next month.

Olympic athletes are being asked to sign a waiver releasing Tokyo games organizers from liability for COVID-19 issues.

The U.S. State Department and CDC issued travel warnings this week urging Americans to avoid visiting Japan amid a surge in serious COVID-19 cases. In response, Japan said the travel warnings won’t have an impact on Olympians.

A full-page newspaper ad in Japan has condemned the government for forcing people to endure the pandemic without vaccines.

Vaccine developers Pfizer and BioNTech are donating doses to inoculate athletes and officials preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.

Japan has issued a third state of emergency for Tokyo and three western prefectures to curb a surge in the coronavirus just three months ahead of the Olympics.

Japan says it will raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo to allow tougher measures to curb the rapid spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Summer Olympics.