01of 08
Without Spectators
Tokyo Olympics.Jinhee Lee/NurPhoto via Getty
Total number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise as more and more athletes, team officials and personnel report their positive test results. Olympic organizers reported the first case of COVID-19 at the athlete’s village on July 17.
The Tokyo Paralympics are scheduled to run from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5 but Japan has yet to announce new COVID-related rules about spectators participating in events.
02of 08Megan RapinoeBerengui/DeFodi Images via Getty"I much prefer playing in front of 50,000. It is way more fun. The entertainment value decreases when it is just the camera people behind, and we don’t even know where you guys are. It is not as much fun, but it is what it is," Rapinoe told reporters.“We practice penalties just like that all the time, because we are doing them in training. So we have got used to an awkward, empty stadium, so maybe that gave us a little bit of an advantage,” the soccer star said.
02of 08
Megan Rapinoe
Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty
“I much prefer playing in front of 50,000. It is way more fun. The entertainment value decreases when it is just the camera people behind, and we don’t even know where you guys are. It is not as much fun, but it is what it is,” Rapinoe told reporters.
“We practice penalties just like that all the time, because we are doing them in training. So we have got used to an awkward, empty stadium, so maybe that gave us a little bit of an advantage,” the soccer star said.
03of 08
Novak Djokovic
“I feed from the energy from the crowd, negative or positive … It’s one of the biggest reasons I keep playing professionally,” said the Serbian tennis icon, who is going for a Golden Slam, which is four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
04of 08Christen Press"It’s been a while now that we’ve been competing without fans and we miss everybody so much," the USWNT forward said after the team’s loss to Sweden. “We could hear each other, we could hear our own breath a little bit, but we do feel the support from everyone from our family and fans back home, and honestly the support powers us through.”
04of 08
Christen Press
“It’s been a while now that we’ve been competing without fans and we miss everybody so much,” the USWNT forward said after the team’s loss to Sweden. “We could hear each other, we could hear our own breath a little bit, but we do feel the support from everyone from our family and fans back home, and honestly the support powers us through.”
05of 08
Cat Osterman
Team USA celebrates after beating Italy.The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
“We were like, ‘All right, we’re gonna have to generate our excitement and our momentum ourselves,’ so we’ve been prepared for that. Unfortunately, back home in the States there were also times when we had to play without fans, so it’s been something we’re kind of used to,” Osterman added.
06of 08Michelle MoultrieTeam USA celebrates after beating Italy.The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images"I don’t think it was disappointing. I think we’re just excited to be here and we’re grateful that it’s happening," the outfielder on Team USA Softball said of playing without fans.“I think there are circumstances where you just want to cry or something, but I think we have to adapt to whatever measures are put in place, and I think our team is very good at that. It’s something that we adapt to and go compete,” Moultrie shared.
06of 08
Michelle Moultrie
“I don’t think it was disappointing. I think we’re just excited to be here and we’re grateful that it’s happening,” the outfielder on Team USA Softball said of playing without fans.
“I think there are circumstances where you just want to cry or something, but I think we have to adapt to whatever measures are put in place, and I think our team is very good at that. It’s something that we adapt to and go compete,” Moultrie shared.
07of 08Nyjah Huston"The atmosphere has been hard definitely," skateboader Huston said. “Even though I skate with headphones on out there, I normally feed off the energy of the crowd. It’s really unfortunate that there’s no fans here.”
07of 08
Nyjah Huston
“The atmosphere has been hard definitely,” skateboader Huston said. “Even though I skate with headphones on out there, I normally feed off the energy of the crowd. It’s really unfortunate that there’s no fans here.”
08of 08Maddie Musselman"This team has always done a really great job of creating own energy … I don’t see it being a problem for to create an Olympic vibe, an Olympic spirit within our team. I don’t see it being a problem for me," said water polo player Musselman.
08of 08
Maddie Musselman
“This team has always done a really great job of creating own energy … I don’t see it being a problem for to create an Olympic vibe, an Olympic spirit within our team. I don’t see it being a problem for me,” said water polo player Musselman.
source: people.com
