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       TOKYO -- For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which ended on Aug. 8, coronavirus prevention measures were of utmost concern, and the organizing committee repeatedly stressed that a bubble system was being used to separate athletes from the rest of Japan and stop infections spreading.

       But the bubble seems to have popped. With the Games over, athletes and other Olympic-related personnel have been spotted out in the area outside the athletes' village, and in Tokyo's popular Akihabara district.

       A few hundred meters from the athlete's village in the Harumi waterfront district in Tokyo's Chuo Ward on the night of Aug. 7, the day before the closing ceremony, a stream of foreign athletes and others with Olympic accreditation lanyards around their necks were seen heading into supermarkets and convenience stores. In the approximately two hours that Mainichi Shimbun journalists were in the area, over 20 people from six to seven countries were spotted.

       Olympic athletes are seen leaving a supermarket close to the village, in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, on Aug. 7, 2021. (Mainichi/Yoshiya Goto)

       A Brazilian athlete who agreed to speak with the Mainichi Shimbun was buying candy and beer -- items unavailable at the village. He praised Japan, and expressed regret at not being able to go around Tokyo.

       According to the Olympic Playbook, which includes rules on coronavirus infection prevention measures, athletes are, in principle, only authorized to go to destinations "critical for the Games," which include competition and training spaces. Using public transport or walking around outside is also forbidden, and the document clearly states: "You must not walk around the city and visit tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars, gyms, etc."

       The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games maintains that the rules remain unchanged regardless of whether athletes have been in Japan for more than 14 days or whether their participating events have ended. The rules, therefore, do not permit shopping at supermarkets even if they are close to the village.

       The athlete who spoke to the Mainichi Shimbun conceded he was probably violating Playbook rules. He went on to say that he was taking care and was just out shopping, before adding: "I don't think we're putting other people in danger, so I think it's OK."

       Olympic-affiliated staff from a European country, too, were seen carrying bags full of snacks and beer. They said they would be consuming the items in the village. A volunteer who was with them told the Mainichi Shimbun, "There's a party almost every day at the Olympic Village. It's a little loud."

       In front of the supermarket, local families were seen waiting to catch a glimpse of the athletes stepping outside. Some handed the athletes origami cranes and took photos with them. One local mother who brought her two kids with her said, "I heard from other moms that you can meet the athletes if you come here. I thought, given it's the Olympics, it would be good if the kids could have some kind of exchange with the athletes, so we came here." Her children were also excited to have a chance to interact with the athletes.

       People are seen waiting until late to catch a glimpse of Olympic athletes leaving and entering the athletes' village in Tokyo's Chuo Ward on Aug. 7, 2021. Some Olympians signed autographs. (Mainichi/Yoshiya Goto)

       In front of the athletes' village gate, a dozen or more Japanese residents including parents and children had gathered. At their center was a Cuban athlete wearing a Japanese "hissho" headband, which can be read as "certain victory" in English. The athlete was hugging young people and standing close to kids for photos with them. Although it was a happy scene, it showed that the bubble system had completely broken down.

       At about midday of Aug. 7 in Akihabara, the Mainichi Shimbun happened upon three Algerian athletes out shopping. They said they were so happy to be able to go out after having competitions and always being in the Olympic Village. The three hailed a cab, which they loaded with a suitcase they bought at a duty-free store before heading back to the village.

       At an Aug. 8 press conference, organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto said, "We are aware that some people have carelessly been outside the athletes' village, but for the greater part, the bubble has held."

       However, a security guard at the village told the Mainichi Shimbun: "I see athletes come and go all the time." At the time of writing, 464 Games-affiliated people had tested positive for COVID-19, with 157 cases among individuals who had arrived from overseas.

       On Aug. 9, the day after the closing ceremony, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was seen out in Tokyo's Ginza high-end shopping district. Such actions are not authorized for athletes, and in July two judoka representing Georgia lost their accreditation after it emerged they visited popular sightseeing spots including Tokyo Tower.

       (Japanese original by Jun Kaneko, Foreign News Department, Yoshiya Goto, Photo Group, Shigeto Tanji, Video Group, Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Tokyo City News Department)

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