A state of emergency has been declared in Tokyo and will be in place until at least May 11th. Sporting events are taking place behind closed doors and bars and restaurants are being restricted in terms of what they can serve.

Japanese legislation does not allow the far-reaching powers applied in Europe and Australia but the Tokyo Governor has also requested that small businesses do not open.

Three months out from the Olympic Games opening ceremony the move has caused natural concern but the IOC was playing down the threat, referencing the move as being related to the ‘Golden Week’ celebrations that would normally be a very social time, and the desire to reduce any spike in infection rates as a result.

The test event at the Velodrome on Sunday took place behind closed doors and with only Japanese cyclists. A test event for athletics in the main Tokyo 2020 Stadium will still go ahead on May 9th but will not permit any spectators.

“With the test events there are clear issues that have emerged,” said Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto. “We are working on these issues one by one with great care.

Australian diving medallists from Rio have withdrawn from the Diving World Cup to be held in Tokyo next week, despite that being their only chance to qualify for the Games.

“FINA has stated that a fair competition is of utmost importance,” said a statement from Diving Australia, “and that the World Cup should be a safe, secure and fair Olympic Qualification event.”

“It is our clear position, in light of current circumstances, that a fair and safe Olympic Qualification event is not possible at this time.”

Four Irish divers will compete though with Oliver Dingley, Clare Cryan, Tanya Watson and Ciara McGing taking part.

Closer to home two Irish athletes secured the Olympic Qualification time over the weekend.

Daniel Wiffen became the fourth Irish swimmer to secure the required time at the Swim Ireland Olympic and Paralympic Trials on the Sport Ireland Campus.

12 new Irish records were set over the course of the week, highlighting a deep supply of talent coming through in the pool.

This was a point addressed by Sarah Keane of Swim Ireland in an interview on the Sport for Business daily last Friday.

 

 

Aoife Cooke secured the qualifying time for the marathon in Tokyo with a 2.28.30 performance at the Cheshire elite marathon on Sunday morning.

The winning time smashed her personal best of 2:32:34, which she ran to win the Irish marathon title in Dublin in 2019.

The result places Cooke 4th on the Irish all-time list, just ahead of Sonia O’Sullivan. Cooke joins Fionnuala Mccormack in securing the 2021 Olympic marathon standard.

 

The Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, Swim Ireland and Athletics Ireland are all among more than 250+ members of the Sport for Business network of sporting and business organisations working together across a number of key areas.

 

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