Tokyo 2021: An uncertain Olympics
As the world’s greatest sports event, the Olympics encompasses a vast amount of sporting and athletic activities. The next Olympic games (if they happen) will be like no other games. As the world waits for the pandemic to pass, all anyone can do is knuckle down and try to live life as close to normality as possible. This is especially true of those involved in sports and athletics.
The Olympics has been with us since the dawn of western civilization and both the spectacle and spirit of the games will continue and endure long past the present crisis. Share on X
Japan: The Host Country
Japan recently extended its state of emergency in several regions due to ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks. There is a significant lack of support among the Japanese public for the games with almost 60% wanting the games to be cancelled or postponed. A recent article in The Guardian stated that a hospital in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, is displaying a banner warning that medical capacity had reached its limit. “Give us a break! The Olympics are impossible!” it says.
11,000 athletes from all areas of the world are due to arrive in Japan along with their coaches, support staff, media and other personnel, some from countries where there is currently no vaccination program in place. This what the Japanese public are afraid of. At present the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are firmly sticking to their guns that the Olympics will go ahead as planned starting on July 23rd.
Additional concerns and stressors
Foreign spectators have been banned but there is no decision on domestic fans as of yet. This also means that children are not allowed to travel with any Olympian mothers. One such athlete, Aliphine Tuliamuk, is due to compete in the Women’s Olympic marathon. She has a 4 month old daughter who under the current rules will not be able to travel with her. She has petitioned that her daughter, who she is still breast feeding, should be able to come with her.
Athletes are also concerned about the level of protection they will have from Covid while attending the Olympics. One key issue for many is the plan to use daily antigen tests for athletes rather than the more reliable PCR tests. These aren’t the usual worries and stressors that elite athletes have in the normal run up to the Olympics.
Will the games be cancelled?
In Tokyo Olympics: Why doesn’t Japan cancel the Games?, Andreas Illmer explains why cancellation is not that straightforward for Japan. The contract between the IOC and the host city Tokyo has one article regarding cancellation and it clearly states that because the Olympic Games are the ‘exclusive property’ of the IOC, it is only the IOC that can cancel them. Japan would need to break that contract if they don’t have IOC approval to confirm cancellation. There have only been 3 cases in the past where the Olympics was cancelled: 1916, 1940 and 1944 – all during wartime.
How can athletes cope with the uncertainty and additional worries
The inevitable postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games was a huge blow to thousands of athletes, putting their hopes on hold and disrupting the Olympic cycle that they live and train by. Now, a year later, as we approach July, there is still uncertainty as to whether the games will go ahead.
Dedicated athletes and their coaches do not like uncertainty. Theirs is a world that revolves around discipline, regimentation and timing. So, it is a difficult time for them. Share on X Most athletes are philosophical about the situation: it’s only sport, after all. But a world without sport would be a bleak one indeed. That is why it’s important for athletes to continue their training and conditioning in preparation for a post-Covid world. Staying focused and ready is now perhaps more important than ever. Those sportspeople who persist in their training and conditioning are a model and an inspiration for all of us as we struggle to live with the pandemic.
We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort – Jesse Owens
About Metrifit
If you fail to prepare, you’ve prepared to fail – Mark Spitz
Metrifit’s athlete performance monitoring and management software assists athletes in their drive to stay competition ready. The sophisticated analytics together with the intuitive interface delivers the data and insights you need to keep your body and mind disciplined and trained to Olympian levels. In the midst of all the anxiety and uncertainty about the Tokyo Olympics, Metrifit is proud to serve dedicated athletes and teams as they stay focused on the daily training and conditioning which makes up so much of their lives. We can’t predict whether or when the Olympics will go ahead, but we can provide insights and knowledge that will enhance your chances for Olympic gold.
Successful change is about small steps in the right direction rather than giant leaps forward. Monitoring is key to getting the balance right. Share on X
Metrifit’s approach not only covers the physical requirements of a particular sport but also helps the coach derive the benefits of other factors that have a significant influence on an athlete’s well-being: training, body, nutrition, mind, and sleep. Daily wellness questionnaires and Session RPE are just some of the modules included. Metrifit’s lifestyle profiling is scientifically supported and offers a practical way to assess and improve lifestyle strategy for your team. In this short video, we explain how Metrifit works for both the athlete and the coach.
To find out more contact us at or click on ‘Request Demo’ below.
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References
Tokyo Olympics: poll shows 60% of Japanese people want Games cancelled
Aliphine Tuliamuk Petitions to Have Her Daughter Accompany Her to the Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo Olympics: Why doesn’t Japan cancel the Games?
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
"When COVID altered college athletics as we knew it, Metrifit came to the rescue. This intuitive athlete monitoring, health and well-being system provides the athlete, coach, and sports medicine staff a way to monitor and balance the physical, emotional, health and well-being of our athlete’s. Metrifit provided that calm in the middle of the perfect storm for our entire athletic department for the future. Thank you to the entire Metrifit family for assisting our department with a seamless process."
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University