By Jejje Muhinde;
China has sent the largest delegation of people to the Tokyo Olympics, 431 of whom are athletes, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday.
The reports say, China has sent a delegation of 777 people. Some 99.61% of the delegation has been vaccinated.
Team China has already secured 318 disciplines to compete in 225 events of 30 disciplines, the largest number of events in the country’s overseas Olympics journey.
Chinese state media reported the country is on track to renew a record set at Rio 2016 despite a coronavirus pandemic that has already delayed the Games by a year.
The Games are set to open on July 23 in the face of worries that an influx of tens of thousands of people from around the world could trigger another wave of infections.
At Rio 2016, China sent a record 416 athletes in 26 disciplines and 210 events – its biggest for an overseas Olympic Games.
China hopes to contend for gold in diving, table tennis, shooting, gymnastics and weightlifting, with medals also expected in badminton, taekwondo, sailing, rowing, karate, women’s boxing, women’s volleyball, swimming and track and field, according to Xinhua.
But China’s men’s basketball team failed to qualify for the Olympics – a first in 37 years.
Meanwhile U.S. first lady Jill Biden will lead the American delegation to Tokyo, according to multiple media reports citing the White House. President Joe Biden, however, will not be attending.
Games organizers have banned spectators from overseas and set a cap on domestic spectators at 50% of capacity, up to 10,000 people.
Japan has not had the explosive COVID-19 outbreaks seen elsewhere, but has recorded over 800,000 cases and more than 14,800 deaths.
