I have always loved the Olympics. I love the competition, and seeing these young athletes compete against the best of the best. And i love hearing the stories behind the scenes too. For example, Michael Phelps, the most famous American swimmer ever , in his last race to take home the gold medal, when he entered the water, his glasses flogged up so badly, he was unable to see, so he swam by rote, by memory. He had done this so so many times, he counted his strokes and then did his under water turn, not knowing where he was, and swam home to victory. Now if that isn’t greatness, i dont know what is. Credit to him and his coach, and his family for support!
Well Japan is getting set to host the Olympics on July 23, 2021. During this horrific pandemic. With covid rates surging in the world, (India and people still dying of this infectious disease). However, Japan has a number of things going to them. They have contained Covid 19 far better than most other large countries. In fact, an amazing statistic, Japan’s over all death rate has decreased, thats right, decreased for the year 2020, even with the Covid pandemic. That’s amazing. They are a nation, that is used to wearing of masks, and the Government closed their borders very early on. However, to balance that, currently only 2% of the population has received the vaccine. And they are wanting everyone age 65 and over to be fully vaccinated by July 23, 2021. I dont know if that will happen.
Even if that happens, though, Japan will not be free of risk. After months of allowing few international visitors, the country will be letting in tens of thousands of people. They will then interact with nearly 80,000 local Olympic volunteers, who will drive athletes and officials around Tokyo, serve as interpreters and do other tasks. A Covid-free Olympics seems unlikely. The question will be whether Japan can quickly identify, isolate and treat people who get the virus.
In this way, the Games may present a particularly intense version of the balance that many countries will be trying to achieve in 2021 — moving back to normal life while avoiding a new wave of a deadly virus.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THE ATHLETES