Tokyo Olympics hold test event without fans or top athletes

Climbers compete during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic climbing test event in Tokyo, Japan, March 6, 2020. /VCG

Despite the spreading virus, Tokyo Olympics organizers decided to hold a test event.

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus has forced them to rearrange or postpone several events, but they allowed a sport climbing event on Friday, with a few restrictions: no fans and no top athletes. Instead, amateurs climbers got the chance to test the climbing facilities first.

The Ready Steady Tokyo climbing event on March 6 was held at Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo.

Organizers said they have reminded people to "properly wash hands" as one of the multiple measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

"Also at the entrance, we had a check sheet so everyone could confirm they had taken the measures and were in good condition," said Mika Yanagisawa, the venue manager. "If everything was OK, they could enter."

"The purpose of the test is not to test athletes," said Toru Kobinata, vice president of the International Federation of Sport Climbing.

"Our athletes, who were supposed to be competing at this test event, are under age 14 and 15. So we estimated the potential risk. It was a difficult decision."

At the test events, some participants were volunteers who have the ability to climb, Kobinata said.

"I am not an expert about the coronavirus," Kobinata added. "We just followed the authorities' suggestions. What we did was our best under their recommendations."

(With input from AP)

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