Arab News Japan

TOKYO: World champion Mutaz Essa failed to beat his personal best high jump of 2 meters and 33 centimeters, settling for 2.30 cm at his first appearance at the Ready Steady Tokyo official test event, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

About 420 track-and-field athletes, including 9 from overseas, participated in 33 events — 16 for men and 17 for women — inside the new Tokyo National Stadium, the main venue for the Olympics. No audience were allowed to attend as part of COVID-19 countermeasures taken by the organizers.

Barshim easily passed the 2.30 three times but failed in the 3 trials to pass the 2.33 jump. He also failed the 4th one made as he equaled the Japanese competitor.

The event, however, was considered a step forward to show the determination of the International Olympic Committee and Japan to have the Olympic Games takes place despite growing criticism.

Around 100 people gathered outside the venue protesting against holding the Tokyo Olympics saying human lives should be given a priority and calling on to cancel the whole Olympic games. The demonstrators demanded the cancellation of the Olympics with a banner stating “The Olympics kill the poor.”

International Olympic Committee  Member Sebastian Coe attended the event reinforcing the determination the IOC will to hold the games. Coe in the late afternoon gave a press conference to about 100 reporters where he said he understood the concerns of the Japanese but was determined to see the Olympics happen.