[Special Feature: Tokyo 2020 and Keio University] <Hosting Team GB at Hiyoshi> Shouting "GO GB" in My Heart: After Completing the Hosting of the British Team's Pre-Games Training Camp

2021/12/15

"GO GB (Go Great Britain)" was the slogan jointly created by Yokohama City, Kawasaki City, and Keio University for hosting the British representative team's pre-games training camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. British athletes were supposed to hear this cheer at their practice venues and along the paths they traveled.

I dreamed of scenes where the shout of "GO GB!" would echo through the competition venues, encouraging the British athletes to achieve their best results. I imagined athletes expressing their gratitude to Keio in the interview areas and saying "GO GB" as they departed. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, that dream vanished.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were held under strict infection control measures after a one-year postponement, but even more rigorous measures were imposed on the pre-games training camps. As a result, our hosting manual grew in thickness, eventually exceeding 100 pages.

Among the many infection control measures, the one we struggled with most was the "Bubble" system (a method to cut off contact with Keio students, faculty, staff, and local residents by surrounding the British team's activity areas as if in a large bubble, isolating athletes, coaches, and staff; areas managed by the bubble system are called bubble zones). During the period, part of the second floor of the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex, which housed dining and break spaces, and the Memorial Hall, the main practice venue, were exclusively for the British team. For the pool and track and field stadium at the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex, bubble zones were established during the British team's practice hours.

Furthermore, for the British team to move between the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex at the campus entrance and the Memorial Hall about 300 meters away, they had to pass through a tree-lined path used by many high school students, university students, and local residents. To secure the bubble zone, a dedicated British walkway was created by partitioning off part of the roadway instead of the sidewalk, with security guards and guides stationed there. These guards and guides accompanied and guided the British athletes every time they moved, even under the scorching sun.

Another major infection control measure was PCR testing. Every member of the British team underwent testing every morning, and we on the hosting side also established rules for testing, such as "daily" or "once every three days," depending on the nature of our work. The total number of PCR tests during the camp period reached approximately 13,600. Establishing the collection system for these PCR tests, creating the response flow for positive cases, and securing facilities for hosting them involved extensive coordination with related organizations, and we struggled with this until the very end.

Originally, the main significance of Keio University hosting the British team's pre-games camp was for Keio students to interact with world-class athletes. The muscular yet supple bodies of the swimmers. The footwork of the taekwondo athletes that moved faster than a "hand." The unerring accuracy of the archers. Seeing these top athletes in the world firsthand leaves a deep impression on the heart, even if one has no experience in that sport. However, due to the pandemic, Keio students and British athletes were unable to have any contact at all.

Hosting a pre-games camp without interaction with Keio students is nothing more than renting out a venue. For Keio students, it offered no benefits, only restrictions on club and extracurricular activities. Under such circumstances, I felt apologetic about asking for various forms of cooperation from Keio students and thought it would be difficult to gain significant support even if I asked. However, such worries proved to be groundless.

The student-led volunteer organization "KEIO 2020 project," which was established in 2016, voluntarily provided as much hospitality as possible.

For example, they placed origami and message cards in every guest room of the Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex where the British team stayed, set up corners in the open spaces within the bubble zone to introduce and experience Japanese culture, and wrote numerous messages of support along the athletes' paths of movement.

Also, as a substitute for physical interaction, they actively worked on online exchanges. They opened chat rooms for athletes who could not leave the bubble zone and organized online exchange sessions between Keio Yokohama Elementary School students and Paralympic athletes. The British team's joy and gratitude for their polite and heartfelt hospitality were frequently featured on the social media accounts of athletes and staff. Furthermore, the activities of the KEIO 2020 project were recognized, and they received a letter of appreciation from Tamayo Marukawa, Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, as "Host Town Contributors."

Additionally, Keio students from the Athletic Association, who were originally scheduled to support practices as the closest individuals to the British athletes, provided immense cooperation. For example, the Gymnastics Club changed the layout of the Mamushidani Gymnasium with all its members to meet the British team's requests. The Track and Field Club and the Judo Club graciously accommodated repeated changes to practice times from the British team. The Swimming Club changed the lane ropes to make it easier for the British team to practice, and the Hockey Club watered the hockey ground to prepare the best practice environment. Furthermore, the high school baseball team helped carry luggage to the archery range.

The cooperation of these Keio students was indispensable and very encouraging in conducting the pre-games camp. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude.

I would also like to mention Yokohama City and Kawasaki City, who hosted the pre-games camp together with us. I believe it was a truly groundbreaking achievement for three different organizations to work together and complete the project over a long period of five years. Even though the work content was the same, the methods for obtaining internal approval and the document formats differed, making it a true cross-cultural exchange. I want to record that we were blessed with positive members and were able to run to the finish line as one team.

We could not cheer loudly with "GO GB." Even though we were so close, we couldn't even shake hands once, nor could we see their faces without masks. Nevertheless, on the final day of each sport's camp, we were able to send the athletes off to the Athletes' Village as they departed Hiyoshi Campus on dedicated buses, exchanging quiet shouts of "GO GB" with each other. The athletes, with beaming smiles visible even through their masks, repeatedly said, "Thank you, it was the best. We'll be back soon. Let's practice together then." When I saw their bright smiles, I knew that this pre-games camp had been a success.

More than 700 athletes and staff from the British team visited Keio University for both the Olympics and Paralympics. That we were able to send them off to the games without a single person testing positive for COVID-19 is due to the effort and passion of every single staff member involved. I would like to thank each individual and express my deep respect.

■ Pre-Games Camp Overview

・Camp Period: July 8 – September 2, 2021 (excluding August 8–12)

・Sports: Archery, Boxing, Judo, Weightlifting, Badminton, Fencing, Hockey, Taekwondo, Basketball, Gymnastics, Modern Pentathlon, Table Tennis, Swimming, etc.

・Facilities Used: Memorial Hall, Gymnasium, Judo, and Kendo Hall (Taiikukan [Judo]), Mamushidani Gymnasium, Track and Field Stadium, Archery Range, Kyoseikan Collaboration Complex, Shimoda Hockey Field.

■ British Team Results

Olympic Medals: 65 total (Gold: 22, Silver: 21, Bronze: 22) 4th place

Paralympic Medals: 124 total (Gold: 41, Silver: 38, Bronze: 45) 2nd place