Video above: Simone Biles and her teammates board flight to TokyoSydney McLaughlin turns 22 three days after the ultimate of the 400-meter hurdles, by which she would possibly win Olympic gold and should even decrease her present world file.Her massive birthday plans?”Try to discover a cupcake after which blow out the candles on my own,” McLaughlin mentioned.Welcome to the no-fun Olympics, the place celebrations and camaraderie can be muted by stringent guidelines and laws as a result of coronavirus pandemic.Navigating the Tokyo Video games might show to be something however a bit of cake: Masks and social distancing — 2 meters (greater than 6 ft) — strictly required. Hugging is a no-no when celebrating. Meals in massive teams are to be averted. Alcohol should be consumed in a single’s room — and alone. Household interactions are principally lowered to video chatting.Not precisely the once-in-a-lifetime expertise many athletes have been envisioning.”In my head, it may be like a very cool jail. Like you are going to be tremendous excited, however you are still in jail,” American archer and three-time Olympic medalist Brady Ellison mentioned. “However once we get there, it will not be almost as dangerous as what we expect it’s, proper?”The prolonged playbook — a tenet for a “secure and profitable Video games” — is crammed with “cannots” and “do nots.” Slip-ups and their penalties vary from warnings to fines to perhaps even worse — expulsion? — for the roughly 15,400 athletes anticipated to participate within the Olympics and Paralympics.Athletes are taking the heavy restrictions — no shaking arms, do not stroll across the metropolis, eat alone when attainable — in stride. As a result of there is a massive silver lining: They’re lastly green-lighted to compete after the Tokyo Video games have been postponed a yr as a result of COVID-19.”They’re sacrificing lots,” USA males’s basketball and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich mentioned. “They cannot take their associates or household to Tokyo. It is an enormous sacrifice and I believe they deserve lots of credit score for that.”Then once more, athletes have turn out to be adept at being versatile.”I assume the one factor the pandemic has taught me is to not have any expectations and at all times count on this fixed unknown,” mentioned U.S. girls’s volleyball participant Jordan Larson, who’s heading to her third Olympics. “It is going to be totally different than our previous experiences for certain. However I additionally assume we will look again and be like, ‘Whoa, do not forget that time we performed in an Olympic Video games in the course of the pandemic?'”One other added wrinkle to beat: homesickness. Most relations will solely be allowed to supply assist by way of cellphone calls and video chats.”It is going to be unhappy for lots of households and associates,” Larson mentioned, “simply because it’s such a particular second in life.”The stage is about, although, for some gold medal-worthy performances on social media. Let the singing and dancing begin with posts on TikTok, which wasn’t round for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games.”I really feel like it may a really social media-heavy Olympics, given the truth that everybody goes to be caught of their rooms,” American 400-meter hurdler Rai Benjamin mentioned.To fill the down time between observe and competitions, individuals are turning to a wide range of actions:— American excessive jumper Vashti Cunningham plans to compensate for episodes of “Naruto,” a Japanese anime sequence on Netflix.— Paralympian bike owner/barista Oksana Masters intends to open a espresso bar in her room, bringing loads of espresso beans — and her grinder — to serve fellow athletes and maintain them “well-caffeinated,” the eight-time Paralympic medalist mentioned.— Sylvia Fowles will spend a while in Tokyo learning mortuary sciences. The WNBA MVP in 2017 and three-time gold medalist for the U.S. girls’s basketball workforce must be prepared after the Olympics. “Simply ready to take nationwide boards,” Fowles mentioned.— Norwegian 400-meter hurdle world record-holder Karsten Warholm will go old-school and produce DVDs.— U.S. girls’s volleyball coach Karch Kiraly has video games lined up corresponding to cornhole.— Ellison will hit the digital hyperlinks inside his room, with “tee occasions” at famed programs corresponding to St. Andrews in Scotland and Augusta. His rounds will present a bit of bodily exercise as a result of he can be swinging a golf membership that serves as a recreation simulator.”Will probably be good to have a bit of little bit of motion,” Ellison mentioned. “You form of flip to jelly when it’s important to sit in a resort room.”To remain locked in, Jourdan Delacruz and the U.S. weightlifting workforce are coaching in Waikiki, figuring out on Tokyo time (waking up late) and in a transformed resort ballroom.The plan: journey to Japan just a few days earlier than her occasion, compete after which head again to Hawaii, the place her dad and mom, brother and cousin can be ready. Then, watch the remainder of the Tokyo Video games with household and teammates.”I used to be actually wanting ahead to watching different athletes from totally different sports activities,” Delacruz mentioned. “At this level, I am simply very grateful that it is even occurring.”In regards to the celebrations (for a medal or simply normally): Maintain a secure distance — and no alcohol allowed in public areas of the village. If athletes desire a drink, they’re being instructed to “drink alone” of their room.One of many symbols of the celebratory ambiance of the Olympics is its longstanding distribution of condoms. In Rio, for example, officers doled out 450,000 by way of merchandising machines and with indicators that learn, “Have a good time with a Condom.” This time, there can be 150,000 condoms given to athletes solely as they go away for dwelling.Talking of leaving for dwelling, athletes are requested to pack up and depart not more than 48 hours after they’re carried out competing.”It’s extremely restrictive. You possibly can’t be a vacationer,” U.S. rower Grace Luczak mentioned. “I do not assume we’re going to have the ability to keep round to see all of the rowing occasions end.”A completely totally different Olympics, for certain. Everybody’s simply making an attempt to profit from the unprecedented scenario.”We’ll cheer … from afar,” mentioned Nancy Smith, the mom of U.S. volleyball participant David Smith. “It is not the identical. However we’re grateful he will get to go.”___AP Sports activities Writers James Ellingworth, Teresa Walker, Jenna Fryer and Josh Dubow and AP Basketball Author Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
Video above: Simone Biles and her teammates board flight to Tokyo
Sydney McLaughlin turns 22 three days after the ultimate of the 400-meter hurdles, by which she would possibly win Olympic gold and should even decrease her present world file.
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Her massive birthday plans?
“Try to discover a cupcake after which blow out the candles on my own,” McLaughlin mentioned.
Welcome to the no-fun Olympics, the place celebrations and camaraderie can be muted by stringent guidelines and laws as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
Navigating the Tokyo Video games might show to be something however a bit of cake: Masks and social distancing — 2 meters (greater than 6 ft) — strictly required. Hugging is a no-no when celebrating. Meals in massive teams are to be averted. Alcohol should be consumed in a single’s room — and alone. Household interactions are principally lowered to video chatting.
Not precisely the once-in-a-lifetime expertise many athletes have been envisioning.
“In my head, it may be like a very cool jail. Like you are going to be tremendous excited, however you are still in jail,” American archer and three-time Olympic medalist Brady Ellison mentioned. “However once we get there, it will not be almost as dangerous as what we expect it’s, proper?”
The prolonged playbook — a tenet for a “secure and profitable Video games” — is crammed with “cannots” and “do nots.” Slip-ups and their penalties vary from warnings to fines to perhaps even worse — expulsion? — for the roughly 15,400 athletes anticipated to participate within the Olympics and Paralympics.
Athletes are taking the heavy restrictions — no shaking arms, do not stroll across the metropolis, eat alone when attainable — in stride. As a result of there is a massive silver lining: They’re lastly green-lighted to compete after the Tokyo Video games have been postponed a yr as a result of COVID-19.
“They’re sacrificing lots,” USA males’s basketball and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich mentioned. “They cannot take their associates or household to Tokyo. It is an enormous sacrifice and I believe they deserve lots of credit score for that.”
Then once more, athletes have turn out to be adept at being versatile.
“I assume the one factor the pandemic has taught me is to not have any expectations and at all times count on this fixed unknown,” mentioned U.S. girls’s volleyball participant Jordan Larson, who’s heading to her third Olympics. “It is going to be totally different than our previous experiences for certain. However I additionally assume we will look again and be like, ‘Whoa, do not forget that time we performed in an Olympic Video games in the course of the pandemic?'”
One other added wrinkle to beat: homesickness. Most relations will solely be allowed to supply assist by way of cellphone calls and video chats.
“It is going to be unhappy for lots of households and associates,” Larson mentioned, “simply because it’s such a particular second in life.”
The stage is about, although, for some gold medal-worthy performances on social media. Let the singing and dancing begin with posts on TikTok, which wasn’t round for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games.
“I really feel like it may a really social media-heavy Olympics, given the truth that everybody goes to be caught of their rooms,” American 400-meter hurdler Rai Benjamin mentioned.
To fill the down time between observe and competitions, individuals are turning to a wide range of actions:
— American excessive jumper Vashti Cunningham plans to compensate for episodes of “Naruto,” a Japanese anime sequence on Netflix.
— Paralympian bike owner/barista Oksana Masters intends to open a espresso bar in her room, bringing loads of espresso beans — and her grinder — to serve fellow athletes and maintain them “well-caffeinated,” the eight-time Paralympic medalist mentioned.
— Sylvia Fowles will spend a while in Tokyo learning mortuary sciences. The WNBA MVP in 2017 and three-time gold medalist for the U.S. girls’s basketball workforce must be prepared after the Olympics. “Simply ready to take nationwide boards,” Fowles mentioned.
— Norwegian 400-meter hurdle world record-holder Karsten Warholm will go old-school and produce DVDs.
— U.S. girls’s volleyball coach Karch Kiraly has video games lined up corresponding to cornhole.
— Ellison will hit the digital hyperlinks inside his room, with “tee occasions” at famed programs corresponding to St. Andrews in Scotland and Augusta. His rounds will present a bit of bodily exercise as a result of he can be swinging a golf membership that serves as a recreation simulator.
“Will probably be good to have a bit of little bit of motion,” Ellison mentioned. “You form of flip to jelly when it’s important to sit in a resort room.”
To remain locked in, Jourdan Delacruz and the U.S. weightlifting workforce are coaching in Waikiki, figuring out on Tokyo time (waking up late) and in a transformed resort ballroom.
The plan: journey to Japan just a few days earlier than her occasion, compete after which head again to Hawaii, the place her dad and mom, brother and cousin can be ready. Then, watch the remainder of the Tokyo Video games with household and teammates.
“I used to be actually wanting ahead to watching different athletes from totally different sports activities,” Delacruz mentioned. “At this level, I am simply very grateful that it is even occurring.”
In regards to the celebrations (for a medal or simply normally): Maintain a secure distance — and no alcohol allowed in public areas of the village. If athletes desire a drink, they’re being instructed to “drink alone” of their room.
One of many symbols of the celebratory ambiance of the Olympics is its longstanding distribution of condoms. In Rio, for example, officers doled out 450,000 by way of merchandising machines and with indicators that learn, “Have a good time with a Condom.” This time, there can be 150,000 condoms given to athletes solely as they go away for dwelling.
Talking of leaving for dwelling, athletes are requested to pack up and depart not more than 48 hours after they’re carried out competing.
“It’s extremely restrictive. You possibly can’t be a vacationer,” U.S. rower Grace Luczak mentioned. “I do not assume we’re going to have the ability to keep round to see all of the rowing occasions end.”
A completely totally different Olympics, for certain. Everybody’s simply making an attempt to profit from the unprecedented scenario.
“We’ll cheer … from afar,” mentioned Nancy Smith, the mom of U.S. volleyball participant David Smith. “It is not the identical. However we’re grateful he will get to go.”
___
AP Sports activities Writers James Ellingworth, Teresa Walker, Jenna Fryer and Josh Dubow and AP Basketball Author Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
