Ines Sainz, a sports anchor for Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, is seen reporting in the Nakamise Shopping Street before Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Taito Ward on July 21, 2021. (Mainichi/Sumire Kunieda)
TOKYO -- The Tokyo Olympics are underway as the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of abating, and a state of emergency continues in Japan's capital. The Mainichi Shimbun followed the movements of Mexico-based broadcaster TV Azteca staff during their stay in Japan to examine how the foreign press have been spending their time in the country, as well as how they feel about being in a city where infections have been surging with no end in sight.
TV Azteca, known as one of the two major broadcasters in Mexico, has sent 17 staff members to the Tokyo Games. From a desire to report on the culture and characteristics of a country located over 10,000 kilometers from Mexico, they arrived in Japan early on and spent two weeks in quarantine at their hotel.
"I feel so privileged to come to Tokyo to cover the Olympics. After all, due to the pandemic, only a few people are allowed to be here with the athletes," said TV Azteca sports anchor Ines Sainz, whose expression was overflowing with a sense of liberation following her release from quarantine. She said that she was finally able to go outside on July 18.
The TV anchor's response came as no shock. During quarantine, she along with other staff had only eaten meals from room service without even going to restaurants inside the hotel, and made do with a large Coke bottle they had delivered to their room.
Ines Sainz, a sports anchor for Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, is seen reporting in the Nakamise Shopping Street before Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Taito Ward on July 21, 2021. (Mainichi/Sumire Kunieda)
Overseas media outlets staying in Japan were subject to a different set of rules than athletes. During quarantine, members of the press were only allowed to make trips between the hotel, Olympic venues, and places for which they applied for interviews in advance. However, once the isolation period was over, they were able to ride buses and trains, and conduct interviews out on the streets.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were carried out, not only when the staff arrived at the airport, but also on the first, third, eighth and 14th day of quarantine. Even after their isolation periods are over, reporters who interview athletes must be tested every day, while other members also go through testing once every four days. On top of this, before returning to their country, they will take two tests within 96 hours prior to their departure. They are also required to install a location information app on their mobile phones.
Airin Nishino, a TV Azteca staff member who is in charge of health management and interview arrangements, said, "If our press passes are confiscated (for breaking the rules), there is no point in us being in Japan. We were told by the company president that we'd get immediately fired if we went outside or caused trouble during quarantine." A large amount of expenses are required to dispatch staff from Mexico to Tokyo for a long period, and this is a project that allows no room for mistakes.
TV Azteca reporter Tania Ventimilla, left, and staff member Airin Nishino are seen at an "omikuji" fortune booth at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Taito Ward on July 21, 2021. (Mainichi/Sumire Kunieda)
Needless to say, the staff members of TV Azteca have all received vaccine shots. They drew up a one-week plan of reporting on Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, the Imperial Palace, Shibuya's scramble crossing and other popular locations, with the concept of going around spots that 95 out of 100 Mexican tourists would want to visit.
Sainz has over 1.6 million followers on Instagram. On July 21, filming for a TV program began in front of the five-storied pagoda at Sensoji Temple. An elderly man with no mask on approached the sports anchor and asked to have his picture taken with her. Sainz accepted his request, and said that he was the third person to ask her that day.
TV Azteca reporter Tania Ventimilla tried out "omikuji" paper fortunes at Sensoji Temple. A camera filmed her showing how to pick out the fortunes. She first drew "shokichi" (slightly good), and got "daikichi" (very good) on her third try.
The staff were concerned about getting infected by members of the Japanese public while community transmissions have been spreading across Japan. They wore masks whenever the camera was off, and sprayed disinfectant on not only their hands, but also on their masks.
Ines Sainz, a sports anchor for Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, is seen taking a selfie near Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on July 21, 2021. (Mainichi/Sumire Kunieda)
In connection with restrictions on activities by the foreign press, U.S. media outlets have sent a letter of protest addressed to the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, claiming that strict restrictions will limit press freedom. When asked about her thoughts surrounding this issue, Ventimilla said that though they are strict restrictions which are typical of Japan, she feels that they are in place to protect athletes. Although there were voices calling for the Olympics' cancellation, Ventimilla does not agree with this view, as the athletes are very happy about the games being held. Especially for athletes aged around 29 to 35, this may be their last chance to shine on the world stage, she said. If the Olympics had been canceled, these athletes would have lost the opportunity to bid farewell to the world at the end of their careers.
Ventimilla went on to say she was proud to be able to take part in the Olympics, which will go down in history. "The Tokyo Olympics made what seemed impossible possible. I applaud Japan," she said.
Nonetheless, only around one in four people have completed their second vaccine shot in Japan. I asked Ventimilla whether she was not scared about the rapid rise in the number of new daily coronavirus cases in Tokyo. She remained calm and said that Mexico was in a similar state as Japan as the young have not yet completed their vaccinations. She also pointed out that infections can occur even if the public has been vaccinated, and said, "We need to get used to this way of life. COVID should not stop the Olympics. And COVID should not stop us from living our lives." The reporter spoke of the need for people to have such a resolve.
After Sensoji Temple, Ventimilla visited Tokyo Skytree, and went around the observation deck and corridor. There, Mount Fuji could be clearly seen, a rare sight during the summer. Ventimilla winked and joked that she got lucky because of the fortune slips she had picked at Sensoji Temple.
The Olympic Village for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games is shown in this file photo. (Mainichi)
"I'm aware that many Japanese people are upset now. They are not happy about the Olympics being held under the state of emergency. But in the long run, if you show good parts of Japan to the world, I am sure many people will come to visit Tokyo after this pandemic is over. I am certainly coming back to Tokyo with my husband and four kids," said Sainz.
The anchor seemed to especially enjoy the observation deck, and took photos of the view below her while sitting down on the transparent glass. She commented, "Tokyo, which combines old culture with high tech, is a window to the future. I am in the future! I'd like Mexico to be like this too."
I thought that this was an overstatement, but remembered Mexicans tend to avoid being direct with others face to face. During my three and a half years in Mexico, I saw people distinguishing between the attitude they display in public and their true inner feelings even more than the Japanese.
According to a public opinion poll targeting 28 countries, which was conducted by research firm Ipsos between late May and early June, 16% of respondents said they were "very interested" in the Tokyo Olympics, while 30% answered they were "somewhat interested." On the other hand, 29% said they were "not at all interested," and 25% responded they were "not very interested." Up to 57% of respondents were of the opinion that the Olympics should not be held.
From right in the first row, Ines Sainz, Airin Nishino, Tania Ventimilla, and other staff members of TV Azteca are seen posing for a photo in front of Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on July 21, 2021. (Mainichi/Sumire Kunieda)
The Financial Times also implied that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's remark that the Olympics will go ahead as a symbol of humanity's triumph over the virus was empty rhetoric.
"So how really were the Tokyo Olympics?" If I ever see them again, I'd like to ask the staff of TV Azteca this question, and learn their true thoughts.
(Japanese original by Sumire Kunieda, Digital News Center)
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