By Takaki Tominaga,
The very first event of the Tokyo Olympics, a softball match between Japan and Australia, was staged Wednesday in Fukushima to little fanfare, but some locals found a ray of hope after the host country's win while the underlying theme of the games to showcase the area's recovery from the 2011 earthquake has been overshadowed by the coronavirus.
Japan beat Australia 8-1 in the women's softball tournament held at Fukushima Azuma stadium in the northeastern Japanese city, two days before the formal opening of the games.
"Despite all adversities associated with the coronavirus, the Tokyo Olympics made a good start," said Yoshitsugu Hashimoto, 65, who lives right across from the ballpark and watched the match, which was held without spectators, on TV at home.
"I missed loud cheers of spectators that I used to hear whenever ballgames were held at the stadium. But I believe people in Fukushima are encouraged by the athletes' performance," said Hashimoto, who worked at a Canon Inc. factory for 46 years before retiring last September.
"It was a good win as the first match. I have great expectations for this team," said Hatsuo Nagasawa, 73, head of the softball association of Fukushima Prefecture and the Tohoku region, as he suggested the win may turn the tide in favor of the pandemic-hit Olympics shrouded by criticism and doubts.
Road closures were enforced around the stadium, where the match took place behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of the virus, and access to the ballpark was strictly restricted.
As motorcades led by police and security authorities carrying officials entered the stadium, there was no sense of a festive mood.
All associated events that had been planned around the venue prior to the no-spectator policy were canceled as part of COVID-19 countermeasures. The only notable sounds heard in the area were that of a helicopter circling over the site and screaming cicadas.
A volunteer wipes down seats in the empty stands at Fukushima Azuma stadium in Fukushima, northeastern Japan, on July 21, 2021, the venue of the Tokyo Olympic softball tournament's opening game between Japan and Australia. The game was played behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the July 23 opening ceremony of the Olympics. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
"The bid for the games was made under the flag of 'Reconstruction Olympics,' but now it is hard to see the theme as the coronavirus overshadows everything," said Nobuyuki Saito, secretary general of a nonprofit organization in Fukushima. "I think it is regrettable."
To help build momentum toward the Olympics, set to formally begin Friday in the capital about 260 kilometers from Fukushima, Saito had been active in volunteer activities as he wanted people around the world to see recovering Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by the quake, ensuing tsunami and nuclear crisis a decade ago.
About 36,000 evacuees, especially those from near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, have not been able to return home yet, but radiation levels have gone down to safe levels in most parts of the area now.
The Japanese leg of the torch relay started at the prefecture's J-Village soccer training center, used as an operation base for workers who battled the nuclear crisis for years, in late March to go through hundreds of municipalities in all of Japan's 47 prefectures.
"As the games were regarded as an opportunity to show the current status of Fukushima, a variety of plans had been under way before the no-spectator decision," said Seiichi Anbai, chairman of the Fukushima city softball association.
"Our emotions are polarized because considering the coronavirus situation, it is sort of understandable, but at the same time, we wanted the games being held with an audience," Anbai, 69, said.
But Anbai said he still hopes that more people will know about softball and play the sport because of the Olympics.
Sports lovers in particular are excited about the Olympics and Paralympics being staged in Japan and remain optimistic about the games' possible accomplishments.
"I'm excited to watch those games. I think they will pick up momentum as Japanese athletes deliver moving performances and win medals," said Ryosuke Yamazaki, a public high school teacher in Fukushima, adding he personally looks forward the most to watching the track and field events.
Saito, 67, also said, "I think people will talk about the Olympics held under the pandemic for a long time. I strongly hope the games will be a success even without spectators."
After barring overseas spectators in March, Olympic organizers made the unprecedented decision earlier this month to stage almost all competitions without allowing ticket holders in the stands due to a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in Tokyo and elsewhere.
The Olympic baseball opener will also be held at the same ballpark on July 28, between Japan and the Dominican Republic.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed in an interview last week that the meaning of the Olympics will not be lost even though the events are held behind closed doors because some 4 billion people around the world will likely watch the games on television and other screens.
"I hope they can see the recovery of Fukushima via audiovisual footage," Suga said.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed in an interview last week that the meaning of the Olympics will not be lost even though the events are held behind closed doors because some 4 billion people around the world will likely watch the games on television and other screens.
"I hope they can see the recovery of Fukushima via audiovisual footage," Suga said.
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Olympics: Japan ready for unusual back-to-back softball championship bid
Japan's Fukushima Pref. to bar spectators from Olympic softball, baseball
