No Foreign Visitors Allowed

As I sit here writing this, I’m thinking how nice it was yesterday, Sunday, March 28. It was around 70 degrees out and an absolutely beautiful early spring day. And now, one day later, as I look out the window, its 30 degrees, wind is blowing 50 mph, and it’s snowing!

I find myself looking ahead to summertime, and hopefully the summer Olympics. I missed them last year. It’s going to be weird not having Michael Phelps in the pool swimming faster than a dolphin, or watching Usain Bolt make everyone else look like they are running in place on the track, but there are always surprises and new athletes coming up. I also try to catch some of the Paralympics. Watching all of those athletes, no matter what country they are from, do some of the most amazing feats in athletics, most of which, I would have a hard time doing at any age. And they do it with such determination, you can’t help but cheer for all of them.

I have recently read an article that said there will be no foreign visitors allowed into Japan for the Olympics or the Paralympics. I understand that the host nation is just erring on the side of caution, but I found it hard to watch the NFL this past year without fans in the stands. It was strange. I will admit it was at times kind of cool to hear all of the calls and adjustments that go on right before a play, but I missed the excitement and loud eruptions of the crowd that happen on big plays, and of course, the booing at the refs!

The Japanese Olympic officials have put out a 33-page playbook detailing all of the health and safety protocols that will be in place. There are many rules that the athletes will have to follow including tracking, tests and mask mandates.

The one rule that really made me think is that the fans, all be it only Japanese fans, will not be allowed to cheer or sing loudly. They are only allowed to clap.