Tokyo Olympic Games: When are they and will they go ahead despite Covid?
- Published
The Tokyo Olympics are due to start next month, despite a surge of Covid cases in Japan.
Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said she is "100%" certain the Games will go ahead.
Many emergency Covid-19 restrictions, in place in the Japanese capital since late April, have now been lifted.
When and where are the Olympics?
The 2020 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in the Japanese capital between 23 July and 8 August.
The Paralympic Games are between 24 August and 5 September.
They were postponed last year because of Covid.
The Olympics will feature 33 sports at 339 events across 42 venues. The Paralympics will feature 22 sports at 539 events across 21 venues.
Most events will be in the Greater Tokyo area.
Some football games and the marathon are in Sapporo in Hokkaido, which has emergency Covid measures in place until 11 July.
What's happening with Covid in Japan?
A new wave of infections began in April, but overall the country has had relatively low case numbers.
As at 24 June, there have been 789,787 confirmed cases (UK, 4,683,986 cases) and 114,509 deaths (UK, 128,291 deaths).
Japan only began vaccinating people in February, later than most other developed nations.
Only just over 8% of Japan's population of nearly 126 million people is fully vaccinated.
In Tokyo and Osaka, the two cities hit hardest by the recent surge, authorities hope over-65s will be fully vaccinated by the end of July.
Can I go and watch any events?
Entry to Japan by foreigners from 159 countries - including the UK - is currently banned.
No international fans can travel to the games.
Up to 10,000 Japanese fans will be permitted to attend, providing crowds do not exceed 50% of a venue's capacity.
Fans won't be allowed to shout or speak loudly. They must wear face masks at all times.
What Covid measures will be in place?
International athletes and support staff will be tested before departure and on arrival in Japan.
They won't necessarily have to quarantine, but must stay in bubbles and avoid mixing with locals.
However, Team GB athletes may have to quarantine, now the UK is on Japan's red travel list.
All UK arrivals, including support staff and members of the media, must self-isolate for six days.
Tokyo 2020 has said no exceptions will be made for athletes, but Team GB says it hopes to resolve the situation. The ruling is due to be reviewed on 1 July.
Athletes also don't have to be vaccinated, though IOC officials expect around 80% will be. Participants will be tested for Covid daily.
Have there been any Covid cases?
Yes - two members of the Ugandan delegation have tested positive in Japan, including boxing coach Patrick Lihanda.
Uganda has sent a nine-member squad, all of whom have been fully vaccinated.
Do people in Japan want the Olympics?
Several towns set to host athletes have reportedly pulled out because of fears about Covid and extra pressure on the healthcare system.
In May, a Japanese doctors' union said it was "impossible" to hold the Games given the pandemic.
A recent poll in the leading Asahi Shimbun newspaper suggested more than 80% of the population want them cancelled or postponed.
The paper also called for them to be cancelled.
What have athletes' representatives said?
A number of bodies and experts have expressed concern.
The World Players Association, representing 85,000 athletes in over 60 countries, said the IOC must do more to ensure athletes' safety - with stricter physical distancing and more rigorous testing.
Japanese athletes have largely kept a low profile, but the country's biggest sports star, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, previously said there should be a debate about whether the Games should go ahead.
Could the Olympics be cancelled?
It is possible to cancel the Olympics, but only under very exceptional circumstances like war or civil disorder.
The contract between the IOC and host city Tokyo makes it clear only the IOC can cancel the event.
The IOC is thought to make around 70% of its money from broadcast rights, and 18% from sponsorship. If the Games don't go ahead, it could severely damage its finances, and the future of the Olympics.
Given that the IOC has repeatedly insisted the Games can go ahead safely, even under a state of emergency, it seems there's little chance it will pull the plug.
If Tokyo was to break the contract and cancel, the risks and losses would fall on the Japanese side.
The budget for Tokyo 2020 was set at $12.6bn (£8.9bn), although it's been reported that the actual cost could be double that.
Even though the Olympics are heavily insured, losses would still be high.
Organisers are standing strong. Ms Hashimoto told BBC Sport: "I am very confident we will have these Games. We are doing everything we can."