Tokyo reports 458 Games-related corona infections
8.23 am: Tokyo has reported 458 coronavirus infections related to the sporting event after the closure of the Olympics. Another 28 arrived on Sunday. The infections have been tracked since July 1.
Some members of TeamNL have also tested positive in Tokyo in recent weeks. Candy Jacobs, Reshmie Oogink, Finn Florijn, Jean-Julien Rojer, rowing coach Josy Verdonkschot and an anonymous member of the rowing staff had to be quarantined.
Last Thursday, Japan announced stricter measures to curb the number of infections in the country. For example, the state of emergency, which already applied in Tokyo, was extended to eight other regions after a rapid rise in the number of corona infections during the Olympics.
The Olympics ended on Sunday. The Tokyo Paralympic Games start on August 24
Olympic Games ready, Tokyo transfers organization to Paris
3.17 pm: The Tokyo Olympics are over. Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, closed the more than two-week event with a speech on Sunday evening and handed over the organization to Paris. There will be the next Summer Olympics in 2024.
“Thank you, Tokyo. Thank you, Japan,” said the German, who was surrounded by Sifan Hassan, among others. The Dutch athlete, who won two golds and one bronze at the Games, represented Europe on the podium where Bach spoke during the closing ceremony. All other continents were also represented by an Olympic athlete.
Bach, just like sixteen days earlier, reflected on the importance of solidarity and unity. “We did it, all together. I declare the Games closed,” said Bach, who received the necessary criticism with the IOC last year for allowing the event to go ahead. Many people, especially in the organizing Japan, thought this was not responsible because of the corona pandemic.
Small protest at the stadium at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games
13:52: A group of angry Japanese protested around the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. A group of about 50 peaceful protesters came close to the Olympic Stadium. They were carrying signs that read ‘No Olympics’. The activists felt that the Games should have been canceled due to the corona pandemic. Sixteen days earlier, at the opening ceremony, there was also a protest against the event, which had already been postponed by a year due to the pandemic.
There is a lot of police in the vicinity of the stadium and a large area around the stadium has been cordoned off. On the last day of the Games, only those who had permission were allowed to come near the stadium. Inside there is only room for a select group.
Because most athletes have already left Tokyo, TeamNL is present with a small delegation in the Olympic Stadium for the closing ceremony. Sifan Hassan, winner of the gold in the 5000 and 10,000 meters and bronze in the 1500 meters, carries the Dutch flag.
Last medal at Games for Serbian water polo players
11 a.m.: Serbia has won the last part of the Olympic Games. That happened in the water polo for men. Serbia defeated Greece in the final 13-10.
Dusan Mandic, Nikola Jaksic and Andrija Pralainovic all scored three goals for Serbia, which also won the tournament five years ago at the previous Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The women’s gold in water polo went to the United States.
French handball women follow French men and also take gold
9.58am: The French handball players have won gold for the first time in history in handball at the Olympic Games. The Russian team was defeated 30-25 in the final on Sunday. France was responsible for the elimination of the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
Five years ago, the Olympic final was also between France and Russia. At the time, the gold went to the Russians.
The day before, France also won gold in the men’s tournament. That was at the expense of Denmark.
France moved through the gold medal for the handball players to eighth position in the medal standings, just behind the Netherlands, but ahead of Germany and Italy. All these four countries took gold ten times in Tokyo. The Netherlands and France both won silver twelve times. The Netherlands did a little better on the basis of the bronze medals, fourteen to eleven.
Bahrain athlete Mikhou caught in Tokyo for blood doping
8.09 am: Bahrain athlete Alsadik Mikhou has been provisionally suspended for undergoing a blood transfusion during the Tokyo Games. The 31-year-old athlete submitted a positive sample on August 2, according to the international testing agency (ITA). That’s the day before he ran his 1500m.
Mikhou started in the 1500 meters series, but was unable to qualify for the semi-finals. The athlete has the right to request a test of the B sample, let the testing agency know.
American basketball players win Olympic gold for seventh time in a row
6.10 am: The United States basketball players have won Olympic gold for the seventh time in a row. The American players were too strong for host country Japan in the final, which had reached the final in basketball for the first time: 90-75.
In 1992 in Barcelona players from the US had to settle for bronze after being eliminated in the semifinals. Since then they have been unbeaten for 55 games and have taken gold every time since the 1996 Atlanta Games. Sue Bird opened the score for the US and the American players never lost that lead. Brittney Griner was the top scorer with 30 points.
For 40-year-old Bird and 39-year-old Diana Taurasi, it is the fifth Olympic gold medal they win with the national basketball team. With the seventh title in a row, they equal the successful run of the basketball players from their country between 1936 and 1968. The US basketball players won the gold for the fourth time in a row on Saturday.
Canadian track cyclist Mitchell wins gold in the sprint
5:20 am: Track cyclist Kelsey Mitchell has won gold at the Olympic sprint tournament. The 27-year-old Canadian defeated Ukraine’s Olena Starikova in two heats in the final. The bronze went to Wai Sze Lee from Hong Kong.
Mitchell was easily ahead of Starikova in the first sprint. In the second heat, the Ukrainian, who had been referred to the repechage by Shanne Braspennincx in the eighth finals, tried to catch up with the Canadian, but she fell short of speed.
German world champion Emma Hinze lost both heats in the battle for bronze against Wai Sze Lee.
Braspennincx, winner of Olympic gold on the keirin, finished seventh in the sprint tournament.
