Finally, in 2 weeks the Olympic games in Tokyo are about to begin. With one year of deay due to a global pandemic and much uncertainty and complex planning, the games will be carried out without audience and athletes only paying short stints on site.
Games without Olympic spirit
Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, even a year later the event is only a shadow of its original self. While the Olympic movement is a symbol to unite people and bring peace, this year, distance and security are of biggest priority. Athletes are only allowed to be in the official space and facilities for a very short period of time and must report daily for covid testing. This week it was decided to host the games without any audience, which will be a sad view on TV and for the athletes competing. which will be a sad view on TV and for the athletes competing.
Sound decision or madness?
Even under this circumstances, I am glad that the Games are being held. On the one hand, it has to do with the incredible symbolic character that the Olympics always have. It captivates fans worldwide and gives hope, motivation and passion in a period coined by uncertainty, distance and fear.
Even more important, I see the Games happening for the athletes. Especially those, from sports that only get a worthy appearance at the Olympics. The canoeists, the shooters, the hepta- or pentathletes and many more. Many of them have decided to go on for one more Olympic cycle and have put their existence on this thin rope. That’s why, in my opinion, ghost games with a safety concept make perfect sense.
Special mental and climatic stress
For the athletes this entire circus with corona tests, tight timing, difficult acclimatization in extra hard climatic conditions is a real challenge. Tokyo currently has a very hot, humid climate. These games are almost certainly going to be a historic heat battle.
Athletes have trained in advance in climate tents to simulate the conditions on site (about 35 – 40° centigrade and 80% humidity). Accessories such as ice vests, ice baths, cooling sports drinks with menthol or so-called ice slushies (viscous drinks made of crushed ice, carbohydrates a/o protein) provide additional cooling from the inside and outside. The body heats up very strongly under maximum performance and corresponding conditions. A core temperature of over 41°C is reached and dramatically reduces the ability to perform and recover.
That’s why the teams will not only have a lot of their own infrastructure (many nations avoid the general athlete space and supply their athletes completely self-sufficiently) but also ice tubs, ice machines and many blenders.
Whoever can best cope with these manyfold challenges will bring home a medal. And even if not celebrated live in front of crowds, it can be confidently said that there will not only be one of the most heated battles for gold, but also the most complex by far.
Swiss team bigger than ever
The Swiss delegation also has reason to rejoice. Once again Ralf Stöckli, former Curling Olympic bronze medalist (Vancouver 2010) will lead the Swiss athletes to the Games. There will be 116 of them in 2021 – more than ever before. This is thanks to good representation in new sports like BMX and climbing and a so far unseen bench strength in established sports such as track and field. The biggest title contenders definitely include triathlete Nicola Spirig, mountain bikers led by a uber-strong Matthias Flückiger and the still somewhat underachieving Nino Schurter, karateka Elena Quirici, sport climber Petra Klingler and time trial specialist Stefan Küng. But the Olympics live just as much from the breadth and the sports that are otherwise rarely seen in the headlines. That’s why the Swiss fencers, the shooters and the riders should not be forgotten here. I don’t know that much about the latter – I do recommend oats to my athletes, but that’s as far as the parallels with horses go.
I am already extremely excited and looking forward to the games – I root for some athletes more than for others, but above all, I wish everyone competing the very best, unforgettable moments and that each and everyone can perform to their full potential.
