A Year Behind Schedule, 2020 Tokyo Olympics Finally Begin
AllSides Summary
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics kicked off Friday with opening ceremonies in Tokyo, Japan. The games were delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus remains a top story around the games; public health concerns threatened to force another delay, and fan presence at the games will be heavily restricted. Roughly 11,000 athletes from nearly 200 countries will participate in the games, which will continue until Aug. 8.
Outlets across the spectrum covered the start of the Olympics extensively, with many focusing on COVID-19 protocols and athletes' vaccination status.
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From the Center
Jill Biden attends Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony
First lady Jill Biden on Friday led the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony in Tokyo to kick off a highly anticipated and unique Olympics.
The Olympics are Biden’s first solo international trip as first lady. Biden was spotted in the audience of the opening ceremony, wearing a black mask.
The opening ceremony paid homage to the athletes who trained in isolation during the global pandemic, showing videos of athletes practicing at home. It also honored those who have died from COVID-19 around the world.
Biden penned an open letter in NBC News to the...
From the Right
About 100 US Olympians at Tokyo Games unvaccinated, official says
The Tokyo Olympics opened Friday under a cloud of uncertainty as the coronavirus pandemic still hangs over the entire world with some athletes contracting the illness even before the Games got underway.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said about 100 of the 613 U.S. athletes in Tokyo for the Olympics remain unvaccinated. USOPC medical director Dr. Jonathan Finnoff said 567 athletes have filled out their health histories and a resounding majority replied they were vaccinated.
"Eighty-three percent is actually a substantial number and we're quite happy with it," Finnoff said.
The International Olympic Committee estimated...
From the Left
With Tokyo 2020 overshadowed by Covid-19, athletes are left to bring light to troubled Olympics
The Covid-19 pandemic has loomed large over the Tokyo Olympics ever since last year's postponement, shaping a Games the like of which has never been seen before.
When the opening ceremony gets underway on Friday, it will put an end to months of speculation over whether the Olympics would be even able to go ahead, as well as prompting further questions about how Covid-19 could shape the weeks to come.
Tokyo 2020 will host about 11,000 athletes -- representing more than 200 countries -- and they will be staying in 21 residential buildings.
However,...
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