The COVID Effects

The amount of COVID testing required to attend the Olympics was overwhelming. Accredited personnel had to get two tests within 96 and 72 hours before heading to Japan. We were tested again upon arrival; then we were given test tubes that we had to submit for the next three days and then every four days after that. There was a temperature monitor in the lobby of the hotel, and each day we had to take and report our temperature.

It was sad that no spectators were allowed, but the truth was that it meant that no accredited media personnel were denied entrance to the venues because of pandemic-related occupancy limits—which is what organizers originally thought they would have to do—because we could spread out into the areas where the spectators should have been. Here’s a look at some of the other photographers and a peek at those empty seats at the main equestrian venue, Baji Koen Equestrian Park, where the dressage competition was held.

Getting Around Tokyo

The transportation central location was called the MTM, and it ran on the clock. If the shuttle bus was supposed to arrive at 6:03 and leave at 6:04, that’s exactly what happened. If you tried to wave them down, the drivers would wave back and keep going. But the good news was that we could depend on the buses and the schedule.

Police and security were everywhere. You weren’t sure whether to feel protected or that all eyes were on you so you’d better watch your step https://yourdressage.org/2021/08/10/postcard-from-tokyo/

In my hotel, a security man sat by the front door, and if you wanted to go out you had to write it down Since we were only allowed 15 minutes to visit a local supermarket, there really wasn’t much else we could do. And when it was time to take a media shuttle bus to the competition venue, a volunteer walked you to the pickup point and a security person was always present at the bus stop