tokyo 2020 olympics

Bored Games: Aussie softball team finds Olympic bubble challenging

38 Comments
By Andrew McKIRDY

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2021 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

38 Comments
Login to comment

I can't imagine that their hotels are much better (or bigger) than your standard cracker-box Japanese hotel, either. Oh the humanity!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Sneak out for some yakitori and a beer?

It's just a matter of time, IMO.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But all the players are vaccinated, so why the seclusion?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Don’t get me wrong, if it was up to me I don’t think these Olympics should go ahead in the current climate.

Oh I agree, but at this stage the chances of the games being cancelled or delayed is slim to none.

It all boils down to the J-govs indecision, I mean they haven't even decided yet if they will allow spectators or not. I think the way they handle the Australian softball team this time is for show to tell the people who oppose the games that its ok, the games are safe as long we put the athletes on a confined environment. I'm not an athlete so I guess they are fine with that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Imagine now how the superstars will react to these restrictions ?

Who cares? Why should superstars get treatment different than the average person?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Just go home and cancel the Pandemic Olympics. Everyone would consider you heroes for doing such.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

they came to Japan for olympic games of for tourism ??? lol

and why aussies have been allowed to come to Japan one month earlier ? Usually athletes arrive just 7-10 days before the event starts.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@dmhondz

Seems you get it mate, thanks.

If they have been quarantined, get tested daily and have already been vaccinated what is the risk of them transmitting the virus to the populace? After 3 weeks in country under these conditions why would they then have the virus? How are they any different to returning Japanese and permanent residents?

Don’t get me wrong, if it was up to me I don’t think these Olympics should go ahead in the current climate.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If they are vaccinated and finish with the 14day quarantine, they should be free to move around with the general population following the minimum safety protocols the public are asked to comply. How are they different from the expats or even nationals that come and go in the country in this time of pandemic.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

smartacusToday  05:08 pm JST

Since they are fully vaccinated and are being tested each day, I don't see why they can't go out for a walk, or at least take a bus ride into the mountains and then go on a nature walk there.

You are 100% correct. This is all about "show" and not science.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

No genuine reason was offered as to why they’re in Japan

They’re here for purely selfish reasons; to use their budgeted fund allocation rather than return it back into the public purse, from where it might have been redirected to support more worthy initiatives such as assisting communities that are still struggling in the wake of the recent bushfire disaster. Never get between an Aussie sportsperson and the public funds gravy train; it’s been that way ever since the medal debacle at Montreal wounded Aussie pride and the pollies swore ‘never again’ and meant it.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

will all athletes arriving for the Olympics have to do this? then it may be wise to have gotten it done and over with long before, so they can return to peak form prior to the Games. I imagine someone who shows up only two weeks before and then spends the next few weeks under bubble restrictions will not be peaking physically or mentally when it is show time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Since they are fully vaccinated and are being tested each day, I don't see why they can't go out for a walk, or at least take a bus ride into the mountains and then go on a nature walk there.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Only to be expected from the Boring Pandemic Olympics!!!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Boo hoo what did you expect during a pandemic crisis???? You’re here just to play softball and that’s it.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"Expected to have one night funs with a bunch of other top-shaped Olympic Athletes, but turned out wrong"

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All the athletes can thank the media and those that let the media control how they think. They are now under more scrutiny than ever, despite being vaccinated and tested. Meanwhile the average unvaccinated, untested resident of Japan (myself included) is free to move around as he/she pleases. Great job!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

As pointed out the Aussies bubble is already burst by playing local teams..........DOH!!!

Theatre of the absurd set to continue!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Flute

These restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of the event. Safety is the primary motive, financial benefits do not come into place. The motive of the games is to unite humanity not to line pockets. Of course money is involved, this is the 21st century.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

Seems some people missed a few updates :

First priority here is to keep the japanese population safe

Nope and

We didn't build all those expensive facilities for fun but to allow the athletes to train with full comfort.

Nope

The first priority and why these facilities where built is to fill up the pocket of a few with money.

They do not care about safety of Japan population : only athletes will be (fake-)bubbled, every other one are free to roam around after 2 weeks and prior to that just have to stick to the plan they submitted before.

They do not care about the comfort for athletes to train or even perform. Marathon rings a bell. Athletes in the never-ending movement restriction even after 15 days in Japan but still having to come in contact with no people not necessarely vaccinated not tested.

Just let them out after they finish their 15 days of semi-quarantine, as they do not want to catch the virus thus jeopardize their chance to attend the game ; no doubt they will still be careful.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Being vaccinated and tested, they are a lower risk than 80% of the Japanese public, but have to put up with harsh restrictions. Rather ironic considering that Japan still has thousands of new infections Every Day.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What boredom? You purpose is to train hard daily and get ready to win for your nation. Did they think this was a vacation and sigh seeing trip?

We didn't build all those expensive facilities for fun but to allow the athletes to train with full comfort.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

No fan support for the foreign athletes, complete isolation for foreign athletes, boredom and added stress for foreign athletes. This is a win-win situation for the Japanese. If I were more cynical, I'd say this was more than convenient.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Sounds a bit like Prison Olympics ! Imagine now how the superstars will react to these restrictions ?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

An absurd situation. That the team is from Australia, same as IOC/AOC Coates, providing a supposed example, that the Olympics are possible - a further absurdity and part of a rather large, flawed PR strategy.

That the team is engaging in games with Japanese teams certainly is not in-line with 'being in a bubble'.

No genuine reason was offered as to why the team is in Japan.

However welcoming the locals, who wave from a distance, the coach must have missed the news that 80% of Japanese oppose the Olympics.

Noted is his referencing the women on his team as girls.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Let's face it. From top to bottom, the Olympics ARE...JUST...NOT...FUN!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This has to be taken into account because not all athletes are so stoic, so this can end up with frequent puncturing of the "bubble" by people that simply can't take the boredom in an event that they were looking forward as exciting and fun.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@Monty

If they have been tested prior to leaving here (very low risk country), are vaccinated and have been tested regularly whilst being up there then the only risk of infection is from local transmission. What are the number of cases in Ota where they are?

Although why they had to train 6 weeks prior up there I don’t know, I’d be quite bored by now too.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

These games are really going to go down in history. No fans from overseas, possibly no fans at all, athletes given no real chance to experience the host country, said host country exposed to real risk of another wave of infections for no reason other than corporate greed and stubbornness…

But the IOC will make their millions and we know that the LDP could sell Mt. Fuji to China and allow them to build a theme park on the peak, and they’d still sweep the next election. So, hey, nothing to lose!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Cant say Aussies are really ‘feeling the love’ here after the mayor’s overt ‘Nationalism’ over ‘Omotenashi’ “welcoming”:

“You’re so cool… [but] "I think you'll come in 2nd place" Shimizu told the team. "The champions will be Japan." -

Is there not “one”, over 60+ Japanese politician, or government official, connected with these Olympics, that hasn’t ‘put their foot in their mouth”?

8 ( +12 / -4 )

They may as well be in North Korea. All athletes are being scrutinized to the max.

That's got to take a toll on your mental health. Draconian indeed.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Aussie softball team finds Olympic bubble challenging

Uhhhhhh, no kidding?

I'm sure absolutely no one predicted that.

Don't worry, only about 5 weeks to go?

15 ( +16 / -1 )

If you dont like it, pack your bags and go home!

First priority here is to keep the japanese population safe, from bringing any virus strains into Japan by all the Olympic participants from overseas.

4 ( +14 / -10 )

Draconian.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

The only interaction they have with locals, he said, is when government officials come to their hotel every morning to test for the virus.

That's the only interaction?

What about your training, which is the only reason you are here?

Oh yeah, you forgot about....

They have played a series of practice games against Japanese teams, at a venue around a 10-minute bus ride from their hotel.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

Tell it to someone who cares. Oh, and stop whingeing.

12 ( +20 / -8 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites