TOKYO: Adjusting to COVID-19 protocols in Tokyo may be easy for globe-trotting tennis players, but adjusting to the social environment at the Olympics will be a real challenge, the sports psychologist of major winner Iga Swiatek told Reuters.
The professional tour returned to empty stadiums and bio-secure bubbles amid the global COVID-19 pandemic after a five-month shutdown in 2020. Protocols will be identical when the sport kicks off from Saturday at the Ariake Tennis Park.
Daria Abramowicz, who travels with Poland's Swiatek around the globe on the professional tour, is also part of the 2020 French Open champion's team in Tokyo.
"Tennis was one of the first sports that came back during the pandemic last year and we are kind of familiar with all the protocols," Abramowicz said in an interview.
"It's something that is, let's just say the 'new normal' for us tennis people."
Swiatek and her team spent a few days practising at Takasaki, about 100 kilometres north-west of Tokyo, before moving into the Olympic Games Village this week.
Abramowicz said they felt "safe" inside the village with athletes from other countries and different disciplines adhering to the health protocols.
Tennis players will, however, need to find ways to forget the routines that they are used to when on their own tour circuit.
"The Olympic Games are totally different than travelling on tour. That's often the thing that disturbs tennis players," she said on phone.
"They are very used to travelling on tour, visit the same places every single year and follow kind of routines that they built for many, many years. Even Iga, being just 20 years old, she has her own routines.
"And to live in an Olympic village, to experience eating in the diner when you know there are thousands of people, travelling across the bubbles, visiting the venues, that's a lot of different things."
Swiatek, whose father Tomasz competed for Poland in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, grew up hearing stories about the Games, and the world number eight will be a strong medal contender in women's singles in Tokyo.
The emotional value of the Olympics for the Pole was very high due to her family background, and Abramowicz said she was trying to keep things simple for Swiatek, treating the Games as a fifth Grand Slam.
"We try to focus solely on the process and on tasks that actually lead to achieving the results," she added.
"I'm repeating this constantly, that the Olympic Games is a competition as usual and like an event and nothing else."
Reuters
Wed Jul 21 2021
An aerial view shows the new National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2020, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Picture taken on January 5, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Pegawai, anggota bomba di lima negeri ada masalah kesihatan
Ujian Kemahiran Taktikal Kebombaan diduduki seramai 12,608 anggota dan pegawai dan hanya 9,313 sahaja yang lulus.
Kerajaan komited lahirkan lebih ramai teknousahawan
Anugerah Teknousahawan TVET@KKDW diperkenalkan bagi memberi pengiktirafan serta penghargaan kepada institusi, pengajar, pelajar, graduan dan alumni yang telah menunjukkan kecemerlangan dalam bidang keusahawanan TVET.
Kedah bakal bangunkan LRT di Langkawi
Kedah merancang membina sistem tren Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) menggunakan teknologi levitasi magnet di Langkawi
Kes pedofilia MRSM Tumpat diklasifikasikan fitnah, tiada bukti kukuh
Kes pedofilia terhadap seorang guru Maktab Rendah Sains Mara di Tumpat diklasifikasikan sebagai fitnah selepas siasatan tidak menemui bukti kukuh berhubung kes itu, kata Ketua Polis Kelantan Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun.
Kerajaan berusaha tangani inflasi, tingkat kuasa beli rakyat
Menurut Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, kerajaan tidak berdiam diri dalam menangani masalah inflasi termasuk melalui pelaksanaan pelbagai bentuk intervensi seperti kawalan harga.
Keutamaan negara Asia Barat untuk penuhi hasrat rakyat Palestin
Sekiranya Palestin diberikan negara dan kebebasan, mana-mana pihak tidak perlu lagi campur tangan dan tidak ada lagi konflik di Timur Tengah.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia dalam tiga hasrat
Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) menjadi platform untuk Malaysia menggemakan keterbukaan jalinan kerjasama untuk melonjakkan ekonomi negara.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Isnin, 29 April 2024.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia melalui tiga hasrat
Malaysia mahu perkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha mengukuhkan jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Dream of maiden Olympic gold put on hold
When one looks back on this year, it is inevitable that the main topic of discussion will be the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ini 5 fakta menarik temasya Olimpik Tokyo 2020
Pun begitu, sepanjang sesi persiapan, warga dunia telah dapat melihat proses persediaan yang dilakukan oleh Jepun sebagai tarikan dan untuk menaikkan momentum sebelum acara perasmiannya.
Malaysia akan terajui industri halal dunia - Mohd Redzuan
Malaysia akan menerajui bidang halal yang bakal melihat pengiktirafan tanpa sempadan dalam isu berkenaan di semua negara Islam seluruh dunia.
Amerika jangan main-main, jari saya sentiasa dekat dengan butang nuklear - Kim Jong Un
Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un tegaskan Amerika Syarikat tidak akan berani lancarkan peluru berpandu ke Pyongyang.
Yuna, Lenny Kravitz persembah lagu promosi Sukan Olimpik 2016
Penyanyi tempatan yang kini menetap di Amerika Syarikat, Yuna merupakan antara salah seorang daripada lima penyanyi yang dipilih untuk mempersembahkan lagu promosi Sukan Olimpik 2016.