Reuters – Defying the sweltering heat and a ban on spectators, crowds of fans flocked to the streets of Tokyo on Saturday for a chance to see an Olympic triathlon up close.
Spectators are prohibited at most Tokyo Games venues to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This has left athletes competing in front of empty stands, save for a handful of volunteers or members of national delegations.
But on Saturday, fans took to the streets of the Odaiba Marine Park on Tokyo’s waterfront, challenging the Olympic staff, who carried signs and megaphones asking them not to gather on the side of the road to watch the event.
“I really shouldn’t be here, but I would have regretted missing this opportunity, so I decided to come,” said Keichi Hishida, a 38-year-old cycling fanatic.
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Wearing face masks, the crowd spilled out onto the stairs and elevated walkways, snapping photos and craning their necks to watch the athletes. Some carried umbrellas and many had hats to protect themselves from the summer heat and sun.
Great Britain won the gold medal of the first mixed triathlon relay, while the United States took silver and France the bronze.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has asked the Japanese to stay home and watch the Games on television.
Unlike the strict closures seen elsewhere, Tokyo is under a more flexible state of emergency that includes restrictions on restaurant hours and the sale of alcohol.
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However, it relies heavily on self-control, and the authorities cannot order people to leave the streets.
While athletes and visitors to the Olympics have remained in a “bubble” with periodic tests for the coronavirus, Tokyo residents take to the streets, especially the very young.
On Saturday, new infections in Tokyo reached a record high of more than 4,000 for the first time.