Japanese athletes give Tokyo Olympic stadium a test run

Japan's top athletes put the new Tokyo Olympic Stadium to the test at a track meet on Sunday, one year ahead of the Games which have been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The televised competition was held behind closed doors, with only athletes and a few hundred journalists and officials in attendance at the 60,000-seat facility, which is still undergoing construction work on its exterior.

As reported by Agence-France Presse, high jumpers got the Golden Grand Prix 2020 meet underway as up-tempo music and the lively voices of stadium announcers filled the air.

However, the jumpers had no spectators to ask for slow hand claps to find their rhythm as they sped down the runway.

Sprinters likewise rushed to the finish line but there were no cheers of excited fans and no collective sighs greeted the failed jumps of the pole vaulters.

A handful of male javelin throwers took matters into their own hands and offered slow claps in unison for each other as they took their turns.

The event was held as Japan takes cautious steps to reopen its economy, with professional baseball, football and sumo resuming in front of limited number of fans.

The event was staged as the nation experiences a new rise in infection figures, particularly in urban areas including Tokyo and Osaka.

Japanese Olympic organisers have said the Games will take place from July to August next year but have yet to decide details, including how many spectators to allow.

Image: The Tokyo Olympic Stadium, courtesy of the Japan Sports Council.