Tokyo reports record high Covid cases

Tokyo’s coronavirus infections surged to a six-month high on Thursday with the host city recording 1,979 coronavirus cases just 24 hours before the Games’ officially begin.

Iran PressAsia: There have been a number of athletes reporting positive cases forcing them into isolation and potentially ending their hopes of competing, while the UK skeet shooter Amber Hill tested positive shortly before her flight and the “devastated” 23-year-old has been forced to stay at home.

The action started yesterday when UK opened the women’s football competition with a comfortable 2-0 win over Chile in Sapporo.

More than 11,000 athletes from 206 countries will compete in 33 sports at the Tokyo Olympics, which will be held at 42 competition venues.

The cost of the delayed summer games has been estimated at over $26 billion, said to be the highest amount in Olympics history.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was postponed for the first time in their history.

Tokyo 2020 became the first Olympics ever postponed in peacetime as the coronavirus wreaked havoc across the globe, claiming lives and forcing the cancelation of sporting and cultural events.

The Olympics have previously only been canceled completely during periods of World War - in 1916, 1940, and 1944 - but never suspended or postponed.

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