TOKYO: Tokyo Olympic officials want the world to know they are working on measures to combat the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic at next year’s games, even if they don’t know exactly what they will be.

Tokyo organisers showcased a few possible remedies on Wednesday, displaying various screening measures at the city’s Big Sight convention complex, the home of the media center for the Olympics.

“Our objective is to demonstrate what we are doing toward the safety and security of the Olympics,” said Tsuyoshi Iwashita, the executive director of the Tokyo Olympics security bureau.

Most of it looked familiar, including hand sanitizers and people passing through scanning devices with guards wearing face shields at the other end.

One innovation involved a sticker placed on the wrist to measure body temperature in a few seconds.

“This time we have tried different methods and analysed them,” Iwashita said. “I think there is no right answer but we still have to think about what we should do. There are various [sports] competitions going on, but I think the challenge is to find out what kind of method is suitable for the world’s largest sports event the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. It won’t be easy, or perfect.”

Athletes around the globe have come down with Covid-19 despite precautions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that athletes testing positive at the Olympics are likely to be excluded, perhaps extinguishing years of training.

The Olympic numbers are huge — 11,000 athletes, and thousands of officials, judges, VIPs, volunteers, sponsors, media and broadcasters. Add another 4,400 athletes for the Paralympics.

Then inject the question of fans: Will there be any? Or will only Japanese be allowed? Finally, factor in the possibility that a vaccine will be ready when the games are to open on July 23, 2021.

But should athletes be a priority? And should they be compelled to be vaccinated? And who pays for the vaccine?

Tokyo organisers and the IOC have said they are testing many scenarios and are unlikely to explain until early next year exactly how the Olympics can be held safely.

Their main job now is to convince skeptical sponsors and fans that the games will happen, allowing the IOC to collect billions of dollars from broadcasters and sponsors.

Earlier this year, organisers and the IOC waited until March before deciding to postpone the Olympics.

Japan has attributed about 1,700 deaths to Covid-19, having escaped soaring fatalities that have affected many other countries. It has also employed strict controls over immigration since the pandemic.

Kozue Tanno, who works as a security guard, participated in the Wednesday simulations. She talked about the challenge of Covid-19, and also mentioned Tokyo’s scorching summer heat.

“We did a demonstration experiment this time and tried to work with a face shield for Covid-19 countermeasures, and even though the temperature was low, I felt the heat,” she said. “We inspected about 20 people but in reality that will not be the case. When it comes to guiding a large number of visitors for a very long time, I am very worried that my sweat will drip on the face shield during the hot summer months.”

Meanwhile, organisers are asking supporters and officials to pack less to wait less when entering venues during the Games.

Volunteers presented security personnel with more than 40 different scenarios, including forgetting to wear a mask and trying to bring an aerosol can through security, to test their readiness for the Games.

Organisers were happy with the testing but said more trials will be needed when full Covid-19 protocols are decided.

“Pack less, wait less. We don’t want to delay the excitement, so please come with very little luggage,” urged Tokyo 2020 Security Director Tsuyoshi Iwashita. “For the testing of security measures, probably this is the last one.

“As for Covid-19, when we finalise the measures, we want to check these processes. To do so, we will set up further types of testing occasions.”

While organisers have yet to conclude whether fans will be allowed into venues during the Olympics, IOC President Thomas Bach has said organisers expect to welcome spectators from around the world at the Games.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2020