Arab News Japan 

TOKYO: Nearly all the athletes who took part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo endured harsh conditions due to the pandemic. Their dreams of walking around Tokyo and enjoying the atmosphere of Japan’s capital city were broken on the back of COVID-19.

However, if you’re the head of the Olympics, the rules don’t seem to apply.

On Monday, tourists in Tokyo’s ritzy Ginza district were surprised to see International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach strolling around town on a leisurely walk with his minders.

The IOC chief responded to many requests for selfies with passers-by, although they were warned sternly not to take off their masks.

Bach’s image jumped on to social media websites, but not without criticism, such as this: “Athletes and the public for were asked to refrain from going out. Is he allowed to go out because he is the chairman?”

Regarding Bach’s “Gin-bura,” (Ginza walking), Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa commented: “It is up to him to judge whether it is necessary or not.”

According to officials, Bach just wanted to take a walk on his last day in Tokyo. The president left the country on a late-night flight in the early hours of Tuesday.