Photo/Illutration Japanese athletes and officials, including the team’s captain, Miho Takagi, center, arrive at the Olympic Village in Beijing on Jan. 30. (Taku Hosokawa)

BEIJING--The main members of the Japanese Olympic delegation, consisting of 83 athletes and officials, arrived on Jan. 30 at the Beijing Capital International Airport here and entered the "bubble" designed to keep the Winter Games virus-free.

Hidehito Ito, the head of the delegation, released a statement, saying, “I would like to support the athletes, adhering to the strict bubble system,” referring to China's Olympic anti-COVID-19 measures.

The two-week sporting extravaganza starts with the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 4. 

After their arrival on Jan. 30, athletes including Miho Takagi, a speedskater and the Japanese team’s captain, Nao Kodaira, also a speedskater and the defending gold medalist in the women's 500-meter race, as well as officials and other participants entered the Olympic Village in Beijing.

There was no welcoming ceremony due to the risk of the novel coronavirus infections. They entered their accommodations waving to reporters who were kept more than 100 meters from them.

On the same day, pair skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara practiced at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, the first training session for the Japanese athletes representing their country in this Olympics after arriving in Beijing.

They practiced their jumps and other moves to the tune of “Hallelujah,” which they will use for their short program.

A curling mixed doubles match will kick off the Games on Feb. 2, ahead of the Opening Ceremony. Athletes will compete in a total of 109 medal events in seven sports until Feb. 20, when the Closing Ceremony will be held.

(This article was compiled from reports by Taku Hosokawa and Yu Iwasa)

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