2021 Olympic storylines to keep an eye on

That is the billion-dollar query. When the calendar flipped to 2021, there have been already rumors throughout the host nation that these Summer Games would be canceled again, and reportedly 80% of Japanese don’t need them to be held this 12 months. Nevertheless, the International Olympic Committee denied such news, and the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee appears hell-bent on holding the video games in 2021. The X-factor stays any surges within the coronavirus. Despite the fact that vaccines may very well be available to many of the world’s inhabitants by July, the brand new variants of the virus are a priority. 

As Tokyo continues to fine-tune and put together to carry the video games in a protected and satisfying method, the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has a brand new boss. Former Olympian bicycle owner and speedskater Seiko Hashimoto is the committee’s new president, changing former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori, who was compelled to resign following some sexist feedback he made. Will the promotion of the well-respected Hashimoto play a think about getting the locals to raised embrace the Video games? We’ll see. However, the actual fact she’s holding this place is a significant victory for gender equality inside worldwide athletics.

If Tokyo doesn’t need to host the Video games, however the IOC decides, with settlement from these nations prepared to take part, then would transferring the motion to a brand new metropolis be an choice over an all-out cancellation? Which may appear to be a longshot, however one story that is surfaced alongside these strains is the state of Florida has offered to host the games in the event that they’re to depart Japan. Now, Florida appears to be in its personal world with regards to responsibly addressing COVID-19, and the US’ federal authorities probably wouldn’t be on board. Nonetheless, it is a story to keep watch over.

The hope, and plan, is that spectators might be allowed to attend the Video games. That stated, it’s a fluid situation, as everything else seems to be these days. If followers are allowed, count on loads of guidelines — particularly for these coming from outdoors Japan. There may very well be limits on when, and to whom, public transportation might be obtainable. To not point out restrictions on bars, eating places, and different social spots. There are positive to be capability limits at occasions and testing will clearly be a part of the method.

So, we all know baseball and softball are again within the combine for 2021. However, they don’t seem to be the one additions to the Olympic program. Karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and browsing  will debut on the subsequent Summer time Video games — along with 3-on-3 basketball. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how they fare, although, one can assume skateboarding would be the greatest hit of the group. Sadly, for followers of the U.S. Olympic staff, surf legend and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater did not qualify for the Video games. As did three-time Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White in skateboarding. 

Simone Biles, the four-time Olympic gold-medal gymnast, is reportedly training as if the Summer Games will be held in Tokyo in 2021. That is excellent news for followers of USA Gymnastics when top-of-the-line ever is poised for much more greatness. Biles, who might be 24 if the Video games are held this summer time, gained 5 general medals on the 2016 Summer time Olympics in Rio. She admits it was tough to see these Video games postponed final 12 months, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Biles is each bodily and mentally prepared ought to they be held this summer time.

Simone Biles shouldn’t be the one dominant U.S. athlete wanting so as to add to her gold-medal complete. Now, there’s nonetheless qualification left to clear, however the six-time Olympic-medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky has her sights set on a third Olympic berth this summer time and growing her gold complete from 5. It is considerably laborious to imagine Ledecky will solely be 24 when the Video games, hopefully, roll round this summer time. Like Biles, Ledecky is devoted to her coaching out and in of the pool, even throughout this time of COVID-19.

Katie Ledecky’s Staff USA and Stanford teammate Simone Manuel says she’s not focused on making even more history at the next Summer Games. But, there might be loads of eyes on Manuel, after she grew to become the primary African American girl to win a person swimming Olympic gold medal by successful the 100-meter freestyle at Rio in 2016. It was one in all her two golds at these Video games and opened the door for much more success in Tokyo. 

One of the beautiful moments of the 2016 Rio Video games got here when the U.S. girls’s soccer staff was upset by Sweden within the quarterfinals. That also stings, considerably mightily, for a program that has dominated the world over all competitors. In 2021, the U.S. will once more be favored and opponents are probably more than pleased to clamp down defensively and take their possibilities from there. Expect the determination level to be high for the USWNT and the starvation for gold to be extreme. 

At 35-years previous, Allyson Felix seems headed to her fifth Olympic Video games. Six of the 9 Olympic medals that the U.S. monitor star owns are gold, together with the 200 meters in 2012. Much more spectacular, Felix is poised for extra success following the beginning of her daughter, Camryn, in 2018. It hasn’t been an easy road for Felix, on and off the monitor, since 2016, however there won’t be a extra decided Olympic athlete in the meanwhile.

Russia will not formally area a nationwide staff on the Tokyo Video games despite the fact that its much-publicized doping ban was recently reduced. What that does imply is that Russian athletes nonetheless can compete independently this summer time, as was the case for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The truth is, latest guidelines have been launched concerning these athletes who will compete at these Video games — underneath the moniker referred to as the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).