Gudtian Complete guide to the OlympicsWantalertson © big sport stories? Enjoy breaking news alerts as the sporting action happens. Download or update The Guardian App, tap the yellow button (bottom right), gointo settings, then notifications to turnon. Scan the OR code ito download rT ev, Nai app Receive sport breaking news notifications Stayuptodateonalt ‘hinge om “Tunon ptifiaions Hes the Sid! The complete wof La Liga’s season eeeEditorial team John Ashdown Rob Bleaney Rich Flower Stuart Goodwin Matthew Hancock Stephen McMillan Will Woodward Artdirector Andrew Stocks Designers Christophe Gowans Rob Timm Picture editors Paul Bellsham Steven Bloor Contributors Natalie Berry Simon Buraton Caroline Dubois Neil Duncanson William Fotheringham Bryan Armen Graham Mike Hytner Sean Ingle lan Malin Justin McCurry Donald McRae Ewan Murray Ben Ryan Alexandra Topping Jonny Weeks Greg Wood Suzanne Wrack Coverillustration Israel Vargas Graphics Guardian Graphics GudMaian Its on! Sean Ingle previews a unique Games that, despite everything, could still entrance the world QLP 28 Venue guide Tan Malin explores the arenas, from Beatlemania in the Budokan to the origami-inspired Aquatics Centre Team GB'smedal Caroline Dubois The hopes With Dujardin | boxergoing for gold inthedressageand _| explainsherlongroad Jones aiming fora to Tokyo in the first of taekwondo triple her exclusive columns 15 KennyandKennytake | Tokyo expects ontheworld William — | Fans will beabsent but Fotheringham on the host nation still theTeamGBgolden —_| wantsataste of glory. couple with Olympic | Justin McCurry profiles history in their sights | Japan's big hopes 10 Adam Peaty The 100m breaststroke favourite talks fatherhood and the fight in the pool, with Donald McRae Your indispensable day- by-day guidetoevery event, the key highlights, ‘themajormomentsand themedal contenders Pages 18-53 The Guardian Tokyo 2020 | 3NN Can Tokyo 2020 join the long list of troubled Olympics that sparkle once the flame is lit? Organisers of the most controversial Games in 40 years hope so. And they could even pull it off. By Sean Ingle 4) The Guardian Tokyo2020Imost every Olympic Games ia ‘themodera era has followed astory arcso precise it could have been matching metronome. Joy when abid succeeds. Years of fears - over spiralling costs, massapathy, Viruses orterrorism. But then, as the torchbearer climbs the stepsat the end of the opening ceremony, there is usually a striking metamorphosis. Suddenly thenegativity is softened or suppressed. The action takes over. And, for thenext 17 days, billions are entranced by the world’s greatest sporting spectacle, Itissurely asking too much for history to repeat itself when it comes othe Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But it may atleast rhyme. These Games are undoubtedly the most controversial since Moscow 1980, when the United States Ieda mass boycott in provest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. How could they not be when, after being postponed ayear because ofthe pandemic, they will take place duringastate of emergency in Tokyo of nofans, and in the fierce opposition from locals? Even so, organisersstill believe the narrative can beshifted. First by ensuring that the Games aresafe for athleves and residents. ‘And thea by trusting that esheer intensity, drama and majesty across all 33, Olympic sports will inevitably drawusin, like moths to aflame, once more. They could yet pull i off. The star-studded bill begins on the first momningas Geraint Thomas goes for gold inthe cycling road raceand 1e world record holder Adam Peaty begins the defence of his1oom breaststroke title. Butthe gold-platedaction comes thick and fast over the first weekend - with Naomi Osaka, theiconof these Games, and the 13-times World swimming champion aeleb Dressel, widely billed as the next Michael Phelps, also competing. ‘Then there's the American gymnast simone Biles, arguably the greatest athlete of themall, redefining the artofthe possible with her incomprehensible blend of grace, power and physics defying fearlessness. The 24-year-old, whois aiming tobecomeboth the aldest woman towin the all-around titlein 50 years as well the first tobearepeat champion for the same length oftime, begins her competition on thesecond dav. ‘There will be new sports too, including climbing, ‘The Olympic Stadium (below) will host theathletics while (from left) Geraint Thomas, Sky Brown, Jade Jones, Caeleb Dressel and Simone Bilesall haveeyeson gold surfing, skateboarding, 3x3 asketballand karate, designed tomake the Games appeal to differen demographics. Britisheyes will centre on 13-year-old Sky Brown, one of the youngest professional skateboarders Inthe world, who hasa live shotata medal, Bur inevitably these olympics will be veryCHRO SATOVAF AFP/GETTY MAGES; USA TOOAY SPORTS; REUTERS different forathletes and viewers. The initial blueprint had been for Tokyo 2020to beasgroundbreakingas the ‘Tokyo Games in 1964, which ‘were hailed as the “science fiction” Olympics because of allthe stunning technological innovations - including the ‘use of computers forthe first time and live pictures beamed across the globe by satellite. Instead 2020 will feel much more like the Dystopian Olympics, with no fans in Tokyo orFukushima anda spirit-sapping 70-page “playbook” of rules. ‘The 11,000 competitors at the Games must, for instance, eat alone, be tested daily, and refrain from talkingin confined spaces such as elevators under the Covid rules. They have alsobeen warned they ‘cannot speak toa driver iman official vehicle ~and will face the threat of fines, disqualification, medals beingtaken away and even deportation for repeated or “malicious” offences. Itmeans thatthe athletes will not get the full-fat Olympicexperience ~ including waving to the world at the opening ceremony, competing in packed stadiums, and letting. their hair down in karaoke bars and tourist traps - but something moreakin to watery gruel. However Dame Kathorine Grainger, whois travelling to Tokyo as part ofthe UK Sport delegation, insists that theathletesare happy despite the restrictions in place. “Inscaleand grandeur, and everything that surrounds it, Tokyo 2020 will feel very scaled back,” admits Grainger, ‘who won five rowing medals for Team GB. “Butathletes Tvespoken tosay the big thing isgetting there and competing. And ifit means they don’t do the exciting add-ons, that’s OK. Yes, the situation is not ideal. But ultimately competition isat the heart of everything” Lasttimein Rio, Team GBcamesecondin the medal table behind the US with 67medals. Sights have been set slightly lower for Tokyo, withamedal target of between 45 and 70. However the376-strong squad, which features more women than men for the first time ever, is still expected to perform strongly. ee Many in Japan remain queasy that piso the Games are taking place at all \ e Inevitably these Olympics will be very different for athletes and viewers Muchofthefocus willbe | thatare unprecedented in oncyclist LauraKenny,the | scaleand scope,” taekwondoplayer Jade Jones, | Thereisstill plenty that therowerHelenGloverand | | cangowrong, ofcourse. The the equestrian rider Charlotte | number of positive Covid Dujardin, whoareall aiming | testsamong Lions players tobecome the first British in South Africa, as well as woman towingoldmedalsat | England cricketers playing three separate Olympics. Dina | inthe one-day series against Asher-Smith, meanwhile, has | Pakistan, istestament to that. arealisticchance ofbecoming | And the pandemicisnot the the first British woman towin | only potentialissue worrying anOlympicsprinttitle with | organisers given that in 2018 victory inthe100mor 200m. | Japan suffered amonth- Sadly when theycrossthe | long heatwave that saw Jine, the usual cheers, joyand | temperatures peakat 41.1C exultationswill bemissing | the highest everrecorded in. afteralast-minutedecision | the country ~and caused the tobarupto10,000 spectators | deaths of 138 people. attending due toaspikein Understandably many’ ‘cases of the Delta variant. Japan remain queasy that However DrBrian McCloskey, | the Gamesare taking placeat the lead for public health all. Especiallyas the official services at London 2012 Entbn cost is more likely to andaconsultanttotheI0C | bedoublethat, according to ‘and Tokyo 2020, insiststhat_ | governmentauditors. But such measuresarenecessary | the International Olympic and willensure that the Committee, which would Gamesdo not becomeasuper- | havelost an estimated £3bn in spreader event. lost broadcasting rightsifthe “The Games will be safe” | eventhadbeen cancelled, has hesays.*Ofcoursethereis | ploughed on regardless. no such thing aszero risk. Itpitches the pandemic ‘There arenoguaranteesin | rebootasa “great festival thisworldwhenitcomesto | of hope, resilience and of infectious diseases. But we've | solidarity” - with the IOC faced challengeswithother | president, Thomas Bach,also Gamesbefore,suchaswith | suggestingthatthe Tokyo the Zika virus in Rio2016and | 2020Gamescanbea “light the 2010 Winter Olympics attheend ofthe tunnel” for in Vancouver, which were all humankind. The next held during the HNL flu few weeks arelikely to show pandemic, And what we've | whether those words were putin placein Tokyo is arange | optimistic, prophetic, orjust ofmeasurestoreducethe risk | abad joke. ‘TheGuardian Toky02020 | 7