How COVID-19 will change the Olympic games
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Updated: 10:12 AM CDT Apr 17, 2021
No. Um so we're here at the Polo store on Prince Street um showing off the new clothing ceremonies, uniforms for the 2020 olympic games in Tokyo. Very, very exciting moment for all of us as athletes. Um I think that the last year has given us all a chance or me specifically a chance to dive deeper into processes to get ready for lead competition. So I feel pretty prepared. It will be a very different preparation in general for the olympic games. We have been working closely with Team Usa as they get ready now to go to Tokyo to compete and we've we've we've developed uniforms for the team and getting them all fit and ready has been our task for the last few weeks. We went with something very graphic and clean and uh it's a clear statements that reflect the sort of red, white and blue of our country and they look fresh and modern. And at Ralph Lauren, we set out to look at our products are craftsmanship and our fabrics and figure out how we could reinvent the design aesthetic that we stand for, but with materials that would be evolutionary and revolutionary. Yeah, but us and yeah, definitely. Oh my God, it's definitely pretty crazy to think about that. Especially skateboarding being the very first year for the olympics. And for me to be just up here wearing this stuff, it's it's honestly pretty amazing. Well my favorite color is white, I don't know, so you don't call it a color, but I like white. So the fact that it's all white I really like. Yeah, no, it's very exciting that the olympics are including skateboarding now. Um it's done great things for women's skateboarding, you know, it's a very male dominated sport and so to have um something like the olympics come along makes it a lot more fair, more equal, more equal pay and amazing sponsorship opportunities as well. Mhm
How COVID-19 will change the Olympic games
![WESH logo]()
Updated: 10:12 AM CDT Apr 17, 2021
Video above: Ralph Lauren unveils new Team USA uniformsFewer spectators will be allowed to view the Olympic games in person this year. It’s just one of the many changes ordered to keep everyone safe."Tokyo 2020 or 2021. People are calling it different things. That's already different right there,” former IOC Executive John Siner said.After a year like no other, this summer will mark Olympic games like no other.“The big difference for us is the family and friends part,” Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird said.No foreign spectators will be allowed this year, including guests of the athletes.That announcement was made earlier this year, leaving fans who had already bought airfare and hospitality packages scrambling."A lot of unhappy fans that will no longer — they're being prevented from traveling to Tokyo and now they won't get a refund for what they invested in so bit dicey there,” Siner said. Even training for the Olympics looks different.“We had little groups, we broke up into like five people to a group and that was your bubble. You had to stay in that bubble and there was just a lot of passing things, a lot of skillful things just to stay active since we could not play and have that competition,” Olympic rugby player from Daytona Beach Perry Baker said. “I cut up some carpet, I think I had some cardboard boxes and just kind of did what I could to make the front a little bit higher, so it was kind of level and tried to use various things so I could drop the weight because noise levels were an issue with my neighbors as well,” Mattie Rogers, a decorated weightlifter from Orlando said. But athletes say the commitment and dedication they've had during the pandemic will be worth it.
Video above: Ralph Lauren unveils new Team USA uniforms
Fewer spectators will be allowed to view the Olympic games in person this year. It’s just one of the many changes ordered to keep everyone safe.
"Tokyo 2020 or 2021. People are calling it different things. That's already different right there,” former IOC Executive John Siner said.
After a year like no other, this summer will mark Olympic games like no other.
“The big difference for us is the family and friends part,” Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird said.
No foreign spectators will be allowed this year, including guests of the athletes.
That announcement was made earlier this year, leaving fans who had already bought airfare and hospitality packages scrambling.
"A lot of unhappy fans that will no longer — they're being prevented from traveling to Tokyo and now they won't get a refund for what they invested in so bit dicey there,” Siner said.
Even training for the Olympics looks different.
“We had little groups, we broke up into like five people to a group and that was your bubble. You had to stay in that bubble and there was just a lot of passing things, a lot of skillful things just to stay active since we could not play and have that competition,” Olympic rugby player from Daytona Beach Perry Baker said.
“I cut up some carpet, I think I had some cardboard boxes and just kind of did what I could to make the front a little bit higher, so it was kind of level and tried to use various things so I could drop the weight because noise levels were an issue with my neighbors as well,” Mattie Rogers, a decorated weightlifter from Orlando said.
But athletes say the commitment and dedication they've had during the pandemic will be worth it.
