Preview of the Tokyo Olympic Games

It’s almost that time again, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics are just around the corner. The games kick off this Friday (23 July) and will run until Sunday 8 August. The games will feature 339 events in 33 sports. Over 11,000 athletes are expected at this year’s staging of what will be a new look Olympic games.

Limited movements and frequent testing are chief among the game’s new features. Athletes will also have to leave the country within 48 hours of the end of their events. Athletes who test positive for the coronavirus will not be allowed to have any further participation in the games and will have to go into quarantine followed by a return home as soon as possible. Soccer and softball games will begin on 21 July. Archery and rowing preliminaries begin on 23 July. These are the events that will begin before the official opening ceremony. There will be no spectators for the Tokyo games.

The country is currently battling a new wave of the virus and Japan’s prime minister, Yoshihide Shuga, has recently implemented a state of emergency with the aim of containing the virus. Several polls conducted in the country have revealed that most Japanese citizens are against the games being hosted during the pandemic. Several athletes have also spoken out against having the games taking place during the global crisis, some have withdrawn from the games. Despite the many challenges, opposition and withdrawals, the games are set to go ahead and many are anxiously awaiting Jamaica’s team stepping up.

Jamaicans in non-traditional events

Ricardo Brown will be the first Jamaican in action at the games when he steps into the ring for men’s super heavyweight boxing on 24 July. Yona Knight-Wisdom is down to take part in the men’s 3m springboard diving event, dates for diving events have not been finalised. Danusia Francis will represent Jamaica in the women’s individual all round artistic gymnastics event, she will bow into action on 25 July with the finals set for the 29th. Ebony Drysdale Daley, who has already made history by becoming the first Jamaican to qualify for Judo at the Olympics, will begin her Olympic journey in the women’s 70 kg event. The qualification round and finals are both set for Wednesday 28 July. Keanan Dols, will be taking part in the men’s 200m individual medley in swimming. The most well-known name in the group is Alia Atkinson; she will line up in the women’s 100m breaststroke. The dates for swimming events have not yet been set either.

On the track side

In track and field action, Natoya Goule is down to kick things off for Jamaica when she lines up in the women’s 800m. Jamaica will be looking forward to the athletics events which have been the country’s major source of medals in past games. At the last games in Rio 2016, Jamaica managed to earn a total of 11 medals (6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze). Even with the absence of marquee athletes reigning Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Omar Mcleod, due to retirement and a failed qualification bid, respectively. Jamaica is still expected to perform creditably with several analysts predicting a 1:2 finish for Jamaica in the women’s 100m. The emergence of Tajay Gayle in the men’s long Jump quality relay pools the prospects are good heading into the games. The men’s short sprints are difficult to predict with no clear favourites, but it’s the women’s equivalent that is expected to produce the greatest fireworks.