'Not like prison' – gymnasts content with COVID restrictions before Tokyo test

[November 07, 2020]  By Jack Tarrant

TOKYO (Reuters) - At an upscale hotel in Tokyo, gymnasts from the United States, Russia, China and Japan are getting a taste of what more than 11,000 athletes might experience when the city hosts the postponed Olympic Games next year.

They are preparing for Sunday's meet, which will be the first international event to be held at an Olympic venue since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Games’ postponement.

The one-off event is seen as a trial run for how international athletes may travel to and stay in Japan safely during the Games.

The 30 gymnasts are staying at the same hotel but on separate floors and have different training times to avoid contact.

"Before breakfast, we take a COVID test and they also gave us cell phones that alert us if someone has COVID (in the group)," 16-year-old eMjae Frazier, who had never previously travelled outside of the United States, told Reuters from her hotel room.

"They are being very safe and cautious but it is not like we are in prison."

Team members are chaperoned from the team bus to their rooms and to the dining room for meals.

"The U.S. team is only allowed to be in the elevators (with the) U.S. team," said Yul Moldauer.

"We can’t be in there with China, Russia or Japan."

"We are on the 14th floor and we aren’t allowed beyond the 14th floor, only going down for food when it is lunch, breakfast or dinner time."

Moldauer, who won bronze at the 2017 World Championships, said he wasn't bored being stuck in his room and was enjoying looking at the view of Tokyo Tower from his window.

eMjae Frazier during the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Sprint Center. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

However, the 23-year-old added that he will bring a video games console if he returns for a longer period during the Olympics.

As well as daily COVID-19 tests, all gymnasts and team officials must pass through temperature checks and anti-bacterial sprays when arriving at the meet venue.

There are some benefits to the limitations, according to U.S. coach Tricia Scott.

"We have a lot more time," she said.

"We don't have to vie for space, taking turns on beam or taking turns on bars... so that part is very nice."

Russian athlete Nikita Nagornyy told a virtual news conference later on Friday that he hoped this competition was a sign of things to come.

"I think that the competition we take part in shows that the Olympic Games can and should be held," he said.

(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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