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Alex Giladi in a special interview from Tokyo: "This is the biggest and most limited event on earth"

The fear and alertness of the Japanese, the hope that the majority will pass in peace and the aspiration for as many Israeli medals as possible: "I will give three. I wish we had more."

Alex Giladi, a member of the International Olympic Committee, is holding fingers ahead of the opening of the Olympics in a week: "We had to give the right to compete"

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• Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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Friday, July 16, 2021, 12:00 p.m.

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Towards Tokyo 2020 (Olympics website)

"The Olympics are for the athletes. We are ready for a lot of compromises and we have made a lot of compromises so that they can compete."

A week before the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics and delegations from around the world are already starting to land in the Japanese capital.

Alex Giladi, a member of the International Olympic Committee and vice chairman of the Olympic Games Coordinating Committee, closes today (Friday) exactly one month in Tokyo.

If there is anyone who sees up close the preparations in Japan, it is him.

Alex, what do things look like from there?

For us here it is still a mystery.

"Athletes are flocking to Tokyo. The judges are all on their way to Tokyo. So far all the rather complex and difficult measures imposed by the Japanese government in its instruction books are working. The fact is that so far only three infected out of ten thousand have arrived. Tokyo has an emergency policy. It is not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages. The traffic is very poor on the streets and it of course has an effect. This will by no means be a lively, colorful and noisy Olympics as we are used to. But if you asked us three months ago what we prefer: canceling the Olympics "Athletes have the right to stand on the track and jump, we would choose this option even though it is difficult."

So more than ever, the Olympics are for athletes. For their right to compete and play.

"We always think of the athletes. The Olympics are for them. We are ready for a lot of compromises and we have made a lot of compromises so that they can compete."

More on Walla!

Gold Tip: Israeli medalists advise members of the delegation to Tokyo

To the full article

Everything is ready, about.

Alex Giladi (Photo: Yossi Tzipkis)

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"Waiting in the field is not easy. At the beginning of the week, the waiting record of a group that came from the Netherlands and waited in the field for 11 hours was broken. Today the situation has improved."

What happens in Tokyo from the moment an athlete or media person lands there?

"Everyone has to go through a check-up process at the airport. The wait at the airport is not easy. At the beginning of the week, the waiting record of a group arriving from the Netherlands and waiting at the airport was broken for 11 hours. Two tests in the country of origin before take-off. "

What happens from the moment you enter Tokyo?

"There is isolation but not full. Anyone who comes is allowed to go to the places he mentioned in his action plan. The official facilities where the competitions will be held are supposed to be accessible. At the end of two weeks you are already like a Japanese citizen and can go anywhere."

And the traffic?

"For the first two weeks, public transportation is not allowed. Only in their transportation system."

And tests there?

"Daily tests need to be done. Media people need to do tests and keep reporting in the app. I get tested every morning. I get a test tube and have to leave saliva and after that bring to the office for someone who takes for testing."

The Japanese are still not completely satisfied.

The entrance to the Olympic Village, yesterday (Photo: Reuters)

On the Israeli delegation: "I'm in trouble. I have to choose to award three medals and today I saw that there could also be ten medals. If the stars in the sky work out, there will be many more."

Alex, let's talk about the sport itself. Is there any expectation of achievement or is the mere existence of the Olympics enough for the Olympic Committee?

"The Olympics will be athletically successful because the athletes come to win. Their performances will be the best they can do and winning a medal is more important than any record. The goal is to be first so their efforts for a medal will not be different from any Olympics in the past."

Do you mark the next stars on the Olympic Committee?

"We leave that to the media. There are also those we can not yet know will be stars after the Olympics."

How do you see the chances of the Israeli delegation?

"I'm in trouble. I have to choose to award three medals and today I saw that there could also be ten medals. If the stars in the sky get along, there will be many more medals and I have to decide what I bet on. "At the last minute, Shahar Tzobari took a medal. Let's hope that the situation in Tokyo will be good and I will miss awarding a medal. There will be as many medals as possible."

There is no longer the traditional awarding of medals.

"A member of the Olympic Committee who gives the medals even though he is vaccinated, will only bring the tray on which the medal is placed closer and the athlete himself will take the medal and put it on his neck."

That means you want to battle as many trays for athletes as possible.

"I wish they would give me a five. That there will always be medals for our athletes."

You are in constant contact with the Israeli delegation. What are they telling you?

"I'm in touch with Olympic Committee Director General Gili Lustig who has already come here and told me he is in the Olympic Village.

I can not share what they ask of me. "

Expected: Many Israeli medals.

Linoy Ashram (Photo: Reuters)

"I hope that the Japanese in the end will enjoy the fact that they actually received this huge event from them. No one is yet saying that it will be fun. We all hope that their mood will change."

What about the Japanese? Are they already used to this foreign influx to them?

"No one is yet saying he is having fun. We all hope their mood will change when they see that the athletes have come to compete and not catch up with Corona."

It is certainly very important for you not to encounter the exits of athletes outside the Olympic Village.

"We are constantly careful and cautious. We hope that the athletes will be responsible for complying with all the bans. This is the most limited event that has been on the planet. Certainly the sporting event is the closest and most limited."

Is it Japan that got this event, is it an advantage or would you like a more lenient country?

"I do not know how many countries were willing to take this risk and any example given for competitions is irrelevant. Talk about the bubble at Disneyland. It is a comma of comma compared to the Olympics. There are 30,000 media people here. Over 10,000 athletes. 40,000 judges and thousands more. .

So your intermediate picture conveys a cautious optimism that everything will go smoothly?

"I am all hope. Hope is the right word. I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I am realistic and hope that everything will be successful in the end."

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