Belizean Athletes Gear Up for Tokyo Olympics

Three Belizean athletes are preparing for the Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday in Tokyo.  News Five has confirmed that at least two of our athletics competitors, Shaun Gill and Samantha Dirks have left for Tokyo already. But, amidst the excitement at the world’s largest sports stage, COVID-19 concerns are mounting.  According to international news reports, the Olympic village is on high alert as at least sixty-seven cases of COVID-19 have been detected among those accredited for the games.  While reports say that the Tokyo organizing committee has not ruled out canceling the Olympics, the Belize National Olympic Association tells News Five that they have received no word of any planned cancelation, and with only hours left before the opening ceremony, it is already too late to cancel the games. We were also told by the association that our athletes are vaccinated.  Additionally, strict testing regimes and regulations have been implemented by the International Olympics Committee, including spectator-free venues and a playbook encouraging delegates to avoid physical contact. The athletic events will be on the thirty-first of July and the first of August. The canoeing events will be from the second to the fifth of August.  Amado Cruz is representing Belize for canoeing.