Weightlifter Diaz gets 1st Philippines gold, no China sweep

TOKYO (AP) — Hidilyn Diaz became the first Olympic gold medalist from the Philippines on Monday, winning the women’s 55-kilogram category to stop China’s bid for a perfect Tokyo Games in weightlifting.

At her fourth Olympic Games, Diaz overtook Liao Qiuyun of China on her last lift in the clean and jerk to win with a total 224 kilograms. That was one more than Liao.

The Philippines has competed at every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1924 — except for a boycott of the Moscow Games in 1980 — with three silver and seven bronze medals before Diaz’s win. She previously won a silver medal in 2016, which was at the time her country’s first appearance on an Olympic podium for 20 years.

China had won all three events so far in the weightlifting competition and was hoping to sweep the gold medals in the eight competitions its athletes have entered. No country can enter more than four men’s and four women’s events. Liao came into the competition as the world record holder with a total 227kg.

Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan took bronze with 213kg. Chinshanlo won what was then the 53-kilogram class at the 2012 London Olympics but was stripped of her gold medal after a positive test for two banned steroids found when her sample was retested in 2016.

Uzbekistan’s Muattar Nabieva led the competition with a snatch lift of 98kg but was 9kg behind Chinshanlo on the clean and jerk and placed fourth, missing the podium by one kilogram.

-Associated Press-

The Tokyo Olympics are coming. Vacation idea?

In less than a year, the sporting world will descend on Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. An estimated 600,000 overseas visitors are expected to flock to the Japanese capital and surrounding regions, and the games — as they are every four years — will be an endurance test of planning and logistics for organizers and attendees alike.

But there are ways for international guests to make the most of their stay in Tokyo and help ensure the smooth operation of the games. This guide will help.

When are the Tokyo Games? Where are the venues?

The 2020 Olympics will officially kick off with the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 24, with preliminary softball and soccer matches starting on July 22, and run through Aug. 9. Following a two-week breather, the Paralympics will begin Aug. 25 and conclude Sept. 6.

The games will be held across nine prefectures, with the majority taking place in two areas of Tokyo: the Heritage Zone, using revamped buildings from the 1964 Olympics, and Tokyo Bay Zone, designed to serve as a “model for innovative urban development.”

Venues outside of Tokyo include the Sapporo Dome on the northern island of Hokkaido (hosting soccer) and the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium in Fukushima.

What are the new sports?

Five new sports will be added to the Olympic lineup, which now stands at 33: Skateboarding, “sports climbing,” surfing and, appropriately for Japan, baseball and softball, and karate. Existing sports, such as canoeing, kayaking, boxing and fencing, will also see a rebalancing with additional events added, primarily with an eye toward increased gender equality.

How can I get tickets to the Olympics? Is it too late?

The first round of Tokyo Olympics ticketing was limited by lottery system to residents of Japan and closed on May 28. A subsequent “relief measure” lottery was held in August. Paralympic tickets were also awarded on a lottery basis, and closed on Sept. 9.

Thirty percent of an estimated 7.8 million have been set aside for overseas visitors, sold by “Authorized Ticket Resellers.” For those in the United States, ticket sales will be handled by CoSport and went on sale in July. As of this writing, all available tickets have been sold, although subsequent rounds of ticketing are expected to take place on an ongoing basis through 2020, before the start of the games.

The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee will also host an online resale site beginning in the spring, with ticket prices capped at the original face value. Available for both foreign visitors and Japanese residents, the official resale service may provide relief for those shut out of the initial rounds of ticketing.

What happens if I can’t secure any tickets at all?

Lack of tickets does not necessarily mean a lack of Olympics fun in and around Tokyo. The organizing committee has approved 30 “Live Site” venues across Japan for non-ticketholders, including in areas affected by the Tohoku and Kumamoto earthquakes. These sites will feature live televised sports broadcasts, cultural events and among other programs, attendees will have the chance to try out various Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Is it true that I won’t be allowed to post photos of events to social media?

Shortly after the first round of tickets went on sale in Japan, controversy arose over certain aspects of the terms and conditions attached to the purchase of tickets, namely, the transfer of intellectual property rights of photos taken by attendees at Olympic events to the organizing committee. Would this mean then that the committee — notorious for protecting its IP rights — would then crack down on social media photos?

Organizers have clarified that, while the committee is, in fact, claiming copyright over photos taken by ticket holders, it will not prevent those photos from being posted to social media. Only commercial reproduction of photos will be disallowed. Controversially, however, audio and video clips taken by spectators are not permitted to be posted on social media. Organizers are expected to be vigilant in filing takedown notices with social media networks.

What is the best way to access the venues each day?

Unsurprisingly, Tokyo’s extensive public transit system will be key in shuttling attendees to and from venues each day. Even with companies embracing remote work during the games, to help ease Tokyo’s famously packed trains, the influx of tourists is nonetheless expected to tax the system. Regardless, using Tokyo’s rail and subway networks is everyone’s best bet for reaching the venues.

For a cheery twist, JR East and Pasmo (Tokyo Metro) in September began offering special contactless fare cards featuring colorful designs and characters for overseas guests. These cards can also be used for quick, cashless payment at retailers and restaurants in and around rail stations.

Tokyo’s train and metro schedules look complicated. Help!

Fortunately, helpful tools are available to assist navigating the byzantine scheduling and routing of Tokyo’s trains. Hyperdia has long been the go-to website for expats in Japan for searching out train routes — simply enter the originating and destination stations, desired departure or arrival time and Hyperdia will provide up to 10 routes, which can be ranked by trip length, number of transfers required, or price.

Above all, it is important to trust the information provided. Hopping on an earlier local train can add significant time to one’s commute, while taking a rapid train may mean passing through your desired station without stopping.

For those looking to keep things simple, Tokyo’s famed Yamanote Line with its famous green livery is a circular commuter line that hits all of the major stations in Tokyo. Whether one has Shibuya dreams or a craving for crepes in Harajuku, the Yamanote Line is an easy — though not necessarily the fastest — option to travel between major stations in the city.

I can’t get over the price of the hotels! Good thing I can cram 10 people into a room, right?

Yes and no, but mostly no. Unsurprisingly, hotels in and around Tokyo will feature some eye-popping prices. Already, “capsule” hotels that normally run around $20 per night are advertising prices exceeding $100.

There is certainly temptation to split the cost of a single room across multiple guests, but it may not work. First, Japan’s notoriously small (by Western standards) hotel rooms would be extremely cramped quarters for three or four people.

The real problem, however, comes with Japanese law and hotel practices. Unlike many destinations, Japanese hotels charge on a per-person, per-night rate, not simply by the room. If you reserve a double room for one adult, but show up to check-in with a travel companion, be prepared to pay up for the additional guest. Further, to comply with safety regulations, hotel rooms are limited by type in the number of guests they may have — a room rated as “single” occupancy can only have a single adult, and so on.

Hotels — particularly those three-stars and below, and especially spartan “business” hotels — are sticklers for these rules and practice strict access control — some chains require guests to leave their key at the front desk when leaving the property, and most have their front desks facing the entrance and elevators to monitor those entering. While high-end Western hotel properties are less fastidious about access control, visitors to Japan should be aware of occupancy restrictions at most hotels in the country.

 What are my other options?

After a rocky regulatory start, Airbnb stays in Japan have taken off to help meet the country’s current tourism boom. Bookings are going fast, however, and those that remain are priced at a premium.

To combat the anticipated hotel room shortfall, cruise ships are also expected to be pressed into service to serve as floating hotels.

Plans fell through? Couldn’t find a hotel room for some nights?

There are some last-ditch options available for visitors to Japan. There are 24-hour internet cafes, which offer cheap, comfortable — if cramped — overnight packages on a walk-in basis. These are popular choices for locals who missed the last train home.

Owing to often paper-thin walls and multigenerational households, “love hotels” are also common in big cities, and can double as last-minute walk-in accommodations in a pinch. While more expensive than an internet cafe, love hotels provide a safe, comfortable place to stay if one’s regular hotel reservation falls through.

What are some meals that I absolutely must try without breaking the bank?

Whether it be a stand-up izakaya, mom-and-pop restaurant or $300-a-course sushi, it is almost impossible to go wrong when it comes to dining out in Japan.

And, despite Tokyo’s reputation as a notoriously expensive city, great meals do not necessarily need to cost an arm and a leg. Indeed, thanks to strict food safety and marketing laws, as well as high standards of Japanese consumers, even fast-service restaurants such as the ubiquitous chains Gusto, Saizeriya and Royal Host, offer fare of surprisingly high quality.

For the best bang for the buck, head to Shinjukukappo Nakajima, or for ramen lovers, Nakiryu in Tokyo’s Toshima district — Michelin-starred restaurants where lunch sets start at under $10.

Besides the games I wasn’t able to get tickets on a few days. What else should I do?

Luckily, the games are occurring during the high season for Japanese festivals and other sporting events, leaving no shortage of alternatives for visitors to the capital.

For those looking for an authentic taste of Japan, a summer “matsuri” festival is a great bet. Tokyo’s famed Sumida fireworks display at the end of July is normally a crowded affair, but for a roomier experience, head to Takasaki Fireworks Matsuri in nearby Gunma prefecture. Held on the first Saturday in August, the festival features elaborate dashi floats, live music and is capped off with an hourlong fireworks display, one of the largest in the region.

As an added benefit, the festival has wide open fields from which the fireworks display can be viewed. Simply put down a tarp to reserve a viewing spot, walk back to the city center for the festivities and return later to enjoy the show.

For the sports-minded, the famed national high school Koushien baseball tournament also runs from early to late August. With a ticket costing $8 to $20 and granting access to three to four games daily, fans can enjoy high-quality baseball in a packed stadium with the energy of a professional game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Truly outstanding' - Tokyo marks one year till 2020 Olympics

TOKYO -- Tokyo promised a high-tech Olympics complete with robots as it marked a year to go until the 2020 Games on Wednesday, hoping to leave behind some bumps in the road including an ongoing corruption investigation.

Organizers have battled everything from fears over deadly heat to persistent questions about the cost of the Games and how Tokyo won its bid.

But as the one-year countdown began, they touted speedy progress on venue construction and pledged a historic Games.

"I can truly say I have never seen an Olympic city as prepared as Tokyo, with one year to go before the Olympic games," said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach at a ceremony Wednesday.

"All the elements that make a truly outstanding Olympic Games are in place," he added, predicting "an amazing experience" for athletes.

Officials pointed to "unprecedented" ticket sales and applications by 200,000 people for just 80,000 volunteer positions as evidence of building excitement for the Games.

"The six years since Tokyo was picked have zipped by, but I'm glad that preparations have gone very smoothly," Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, before the symbolic handing-out of invitations to national Olympic committees.

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori said Bach praised the speed of the city's preparations as "an Olympic record".


- High-tech showcase -

Half of the new permanent venues have been completed, and organizers say construction of the rest is on track.

Tokyo residents lined up for hours to try out Olympic sports at one of the events to celebrate the landmark.

Twelve-year-old Yukimasa Nakahara queued from 5:30 am with his mother for the chance to pitch baseballs.

"I'm looking forward to the Olympics... We've won tickets for a baseball game for the bronze medal," he told AFP with a big smile.

While cooler weather this summer has assuaged fears raised by a deadly heatwave last year, organizers say they have a raft of safety measures planned in case temperatures soar.

Tactics from misting towers to flower beds -- which don't radiate heat, and which organizers say also have a "psychological" cooling effect -- will be tested this week at a beach volleyball event.

With the countdown under way, organizers have also been stepping up efforts to promote the Games as a showcase for Japan's high-tech know-how.

Japan's reputation as an industrial innovator has flagged since the last time it hosted the Games, in Tokyo in 1964, when it wowed the world with bullet trains.

But government and businesses are hoping to dazzle visitors with everything from driverless airport transport to robot greeters and mascots.

The organizers have even teamed up with two Japanese astronauts who will send messages of support from the International Space Station to those carrying the Olympic torch through the country.

- Millions apply for tickets -

The torch relay, featuring a rose-gold cherry blossom-shaped torch, will start from a sports centre in Fukushima that housed workers battling to remove radioactive waste after the 2011 tsunami.

It will pass through other areas of north-east Japan devastated by the disaster, with authorities hoping to demonstrate the region's recovery.

Organizers also want the Games to be the "most sustainable ever" and are making everything from medals to podiums from recycled materials.

Designs for the medals were unveiled Wednesday, featuring a rough outer ring similar to a meringue encircling a smooth shining centre.

Organizers said the design was intended to resemble stones that had been polished -- a symbol of the daily striving of athletes preparing for the Games.

The preparations haven't all been plain sailing for the organizers, with persistent questions over the cost of the Games, despite cuts of more than $4 billion.

The last version of the budget, released in December 2018 stood at 1.35 trillion yen ($12.1 billion), unchanged from 2017.

Organizers have also faced a series of embarrassing sideshows, including the resignation of Japan's Olympics minister in April after a string of gaffes.

That came just a month after the head of Japan's Olympic Committee Tsunekazu Takeda said he would step down as French investigators examine payments made before Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Games.

But the clouds appear to have done little to dull enthusiasm for the Games, at least in Japan.

Organisers say more than 7.5 million residents registered for a lottery to buy tickets during a first round in July.

Demand was so high that the registration period was extended and organizers will hold a follow-up in August for those who were unsuccessful the first time around.

source: news.abs-cbn.com