Tokyo Olympics - The African Mirror

Aug

2021

Olympics-Giants fall, Crouser sets record, elbows in open water

MITCH PHILLIPS and SUDIPTO GANGULY U.S. men continued to sputter on the athletics track at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, while kayaker Lisa Carrington became New Zealand's most decorated Olympian and American Ryan Crouser broke his own shot put world record. Jamaica's Hansle Parchment stunned viewers and himself with an upset win over the overwhelming favourite, Grant Holloway from the United States, in the 110 metres hurdles. The Americans individually remain bereft of a running gold - a prize they have won every time they have entered since the inaugural 1896 Games. A bedraggled U.S. 4x100 metres performance added to…

Aug

2021

By The African Mirror

Olympics-Biles retakes spotlight as world records fall, IOC probes Belarus

SPORT

STEVE KEATING and MITCH PHILLIPS SIMONE Biles retook the gymnastics stage on Tuesday after a week's absence, electrifying the Tokyo Olympics on a day that saw world records smashed and organisers probe Belarus's treatment of an athlete now in diplomatic protection. The return of the American, considered by many the greatest gymnast ever, ensured a blockbuster finale for the sport at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre as Biles scored 14.000 on the balance beam to take the bronze. She had abruptly dropped out of the team event earlier in the Games citing mental health issues and increasing the global spotlight on…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Olympics-Biles out of next event, mental health in Games spotlight

SPORT

DAVID DOLAN, ELAINE LIES and MARTIN PETTY SIMONE Biles withdrew from the individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, a day after she shocked the world by pulling out of the team event. Olympians past and present flooded the U.S. gymnast with messages of support as the mental health of athletes -- and the extra pressures brought by the COVID-19 pandemic -- were in sharp focus at the Games. "The advice I would give is to reach out, to colleagues and friends," said Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics. "Don't be afraid to show vulnerability, it's a badge…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Olympics: Japan enjoy golden day, Tunisian swimmer stuns superpowers

SPORT

SAM NUSSEY, TAKASHI UMEKAWA and MITCH PHILLIPS THE Tokyo Olympics has delivered a day of high drama, with a stunning surprise in the pool, one of the great David v Goliath cycling victories and double sibling judo gold as Japan continued their golden start. The host nation bagged skateboarding's first gold medal courtesy of Yuto Horigome, then saw Uta Abe and her brother Hifumi make history as the first siblings to win gold medals in different events on the same day in any sport. With swimmer Yui Ohashi also victorious, Japan's overall gold medal tally rose to five, one behind…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Africa hopes for medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE Tokyo Olympics are finally upon us - albeit with questionable energy - and this instalment of games sees a number of new and returning faces representing the African continent. While known countries such as Uganda; Egypt; Nigeria and South Africa have increased their representation at the summer games with the introduction of new sporting codes, some notable faces will be missing the tournament due to IAAF rulings or reluctance to participate amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many sports fans will be eager to see how South Africa’s sprinters and swimmers will do against the USA’s dominant sprinters,…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Chad Le Clos: “I hope South Africans can see the pride in all of us.”

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FOUR-time Olympic medalist Chad Le Close hopes to make South Africa proud as he and the national team begin their Olympic battle. The South African swimmer spoke to media after being announced as one of the flag bearers for his home nation, walking alongside Olympic debutant and women’s hockey vice-captain, Phumelela Mbande. "It is a huge thing, this is special for me, and it means a lot to my family and me. Just being here [at the Olympic Games] is a huge honour after everything that has happened," Le Clos told Tokyo 2020. Le Clos first shared…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Guinea takes part in Olympics

COVID-19

GUINEA’S five athletes will participate in the Tokyo Olympics after all, a statement from the West African nation's sports ministry has said, reversing the previous day's decision to suspend its participation in the Games citing the pandemic. On Wednesday, Sports Minister Sanoussy Bantama Sow said in a letter to the country's National Olympic Committee that the government had cancelled Guinea's participation to "preserve the health of its athletes" due to a surge in COVID-19 variants. Daily coronavirus infections in Tokyo rose to 1,979 cases on Thursday, the city said, the highest level since January. The July 21 letter seen by…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 incidents at the Tokyo Olympics

COVID-19

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be held under unprecedented conditions and tight quarantine rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections. Yet a number of cases have emerged involving athletes and other people involved with the Games. The following is a list to date, in chronological order. JUNE 20 - A coach with Uganda's squad tests positive on arrival at Narita airport and is quarantined at a government-designated facility. The rest of the team heads by bus for their host city, Izumisano near Osaka in western Japan. JUNE 23 - A…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

‘We urge caution,’ WHO says on Tokyo Olympics

COVID-19

STEPHANIE NEBEHAY THE World Health Organization, which is advising the International Olympic Committee in the run-up to the Tokyo Games opening later this month, is urging caution so as to stem the spread of the coronavirus, a senior WHO official has said. Crowds at Euro 2020 soccer stadiums and in pubs and bars in host cities are driving the current rise in COVID-19 infections in Europe, the WHO's regional office said on Thursday. Maria van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19 at its global headquarters, was asked what lessons it was drawing from the Euro 2020 tournament in order to…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Up to 10,000 fans allowed at Tokyo 2020 venues, despite warnings

WORLD

CHRIS GALLAGHER, ANTONI SLODKOWSKI and DANIEL LEUSSINK UP to 10,000 domestic spectators will be allowed in Tokyo 2020 venues, Olympics organisers have announced, a decision that cuts against the recommendation of medical experts who said holding the event without fans was the least risky option. The announcement ends months of speculation and highlights Japan's determination to push on with the Games and salvage the multi-billion-dollar extravaganza amid public opposition and deep concern about a resurgence in infections. The decision was widely expected after some recent comments by organisers and as the government's own medical experts last week appeared resigned to…