Japan’s Olympic Committee announced that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be celebrated this summer in spite of the alarming increase of coronavirus cases in the capital. 

The Olympics are due to begin on July 23rd, but a recent survey found out that around 80% of the Japanese people want a postponement or cancellation. 

However, the Japanese authorities announced a Preventive Action Plan to avoid new  infections: the athletes will be tested for Covid at least every four days, all the visitors will have to download a phone app for Covid-19 exposure notifications, and it will be forbidden to get within 2 meters of the athletes.

This year we’ll see some new sports, such as surfing, which will debut on the Pacific Coast of Japan; skateboarding, with two categories: street and park; sport climbing; karate; and baseball. The Organising Committee also added 15 new disciplines, including a mixed team event in archery,  the 1500m women’s and 4x100m mixed event in swimming.

And there will be more changes: they removed lacrosse, basque pelota, tug of war, and cricket.

These Olympic games are very special, and the Organising Committee is trying to make them as sustainable as possible. It will be the first time that the Olympic torch is lit with hydrogen, and the medals have been produced from small electronic devices that were provided by people all over Japan.

But we aren’t sure if we’ll see these medals this summer or if we’ll have to wait until next year to enjoy the games. Only time and Covid will tell.