Jimu news reporter Song Qingying
Intern Tu Mengjun Huang Yumeng
This year's Tokyo Olympics are very different from previous years: no spectators, not even the families of athletes, can come to the stadium to watch the games. Athletes will face empty stands while their families sit in front of the TV and watch the game. Many athletes who stayed alone in the Olympic Village "complained": it is too lonely.
Lonely athletes beat Switch wildly in the Olympic Village
Affected by the pandemic, the vast majority of venues at the Tokyo Olympics will not allow local or foreign spectators to enter, so many athletes will complete the competition alone and live alone in the Olympic Village.
Tokyo Olympic Village Room (Source: Ap News Agency)
American track and field athlete Mason Finley has to stay in the Olympic Village to pass the time by playing games, with his pregnant wife and two dogs waiting for him at home. The lonely Mason said helplessly, "I just want to have some fun in the Olympic Village." ”
According to the Associated Press, because athletes are accustomed to spectators, at least with family and familiar friends to support the scene, the Olympic Games without spectators make many athletes feel difficult to adapt.
Gymnastics champion Simon Byers said he was a little worried about whether he could play normally without an audience on the spot. U.S. Swim Team 15-year-old athlete Katie Grimes said it was "strange" that her family did not appear in the stands.
Feeling highly stressful at the Olympics is something that many athletes have experienced. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Katie Hof, the youngest athlete on the U.S. team at the time, vomited on the pool deck during her first game due to excessive nervousness.
Many athletes feel that their families can bring strength to themselves on the spot.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, 19-year-old Michael Phelps, after winning his first Olympic gold medal, crossed the barbed wire fence near the pool and reached out to grab his mother's hand, which still makes many people remember it vividly.
Michael Phelps and his mother (Source: Bleacher Report)
Defending Olympic champion Centrovitz in the 1500m said: "Seeing my family in the crowd and hearing their voices gives me some comfort."
Athletes' families went across borders to watch the game live
At this Olympic Games, many athletes' families will have to watch the games on TV and mobile phones. Athletes can only contact their families by phone, text message, or video.
Some athletes' families will hold parties at home to watch the game. Dutch swimmer Kira Tucsont's mother, who was a gold medalist in swimming at the 1984 Olympics, will be waiting in front of television.
Even watching the live broadcast of the match upset South African swimmer Chad Le Cross, because his match was broadcast in South Africa at exactly 3 a.m. and his family was flying to the United States to watch the live broadcast.
Nellie, the grandmother of famous American gymnast Simon Byers, will watch the game alone at home, and Nellie thinks that the Tokyo Olympics rule of not allowing family members to be present is unreasonable, and she believes that as long as Tokyo has a 12,000-seat venue, it can maintain enough social distancing to allow audiences to enter.
Empty stands for the Tokyo Olympics (Source: AFP)
Athletes withdrew because there were no spectators
According to French media France24, some athletes chose to withdraw from the competition because there was no audience present. Australian tennis player Kirgios decided to retire, giving the opportunity to other athletes who wanted to play. He said on social media: "Playing in an empty stadium is not for me. ”
However, some athletes said that the absence of spectators would not affect the status of the competition, and Philippine rower Chris Nivarez said that although there was no audience, he would recall the scene where his family and fans cheered for themselves.
Many athletes who have trained and competed during the pandemic have become accustomed to empty stadiums. Kelly Wilson, a team psychologist at the New Zealand Olympic Committee, said: "Athletes are able to perform at their best without spectators. ”
Five-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Katie Ledecky encouraged athletes to unite and not be affected: "Although this is an Olympic Games in front of television, everyone in the world can watch it. ”
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