TOKYO — The Tokyo Olympics were to be held this past summer, but like many events in 2020, had to be postponed because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
The Olympic games are now scheduled for summer 2021, running from July 23 to Aug. 8.
But local organizers are preparing now to see if they can put on the international sporting events.
Officials announced there will be 18 test events held starting in March and running through May, The Associated Press reported.
Some of the events will have athletes from other countries participating. Those include swimming, gymnastics, diving and volleyball.
There will also be a track and field test event on May 9, but officials didn’t say if international athletes will be included, the AP reported.
Other events will just test operations and will not include athletes.
Sporting events with fans have already been held as the final game of the Japan Series of professional baseball was played in front of 19,000 fans in a Fukuoka stadium that holds 38,000 people normally.
A gymnastic competition was held earlier this month in Tokyo.
Recently, the city has had a surge in COVID-19 cases, setting a one-day record of 570 new infections in Tokyo, the AP reported.
Cox Media Group
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