Epidemics
Seiko Hashimoto President of Tokyo 2020 speaks during a four-party meeting in Tokyo, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. All fans will be barred from the Paralympics during the pandemic, just as they were from the recently-completed Tokyo Olympics, organizers said Monday. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
Paralympics follow lead of Olympics: No fans during pandemic

By Stephen Wade Aug. 16, 2021 07:23 AM EDT

A woman wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walks under the scorching sun Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan leader's medical adviser urges tougher virus measures

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 12, 2021 08:09 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 23, 2021, file photo, anti-Olympic protesters demonstrate near the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan where the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is taking place. A lot of Japanese were reluctant or opposed to holding the Olympics during a worsening pandemic. A series of resignations of Olympic-linked officials over sexism, past bullying and Holocaust jokes also hurt the Games' image ahead of the July 23 opening. There were protests on Tokyo streets and on social media. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya, File)
Tokyo's Olympic fears give way to acceptance, to a point

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 11, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

A woman holds a French flag and applauds as she joins others in the Olympics fan zone at the Trocadero in Paris, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. A giant flag will be unfurled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris Sunday as part of the handover ceremony of Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024, as Paris will be the next Summer Games host in 2024. The passing of the hosting baton will be split between the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo and a public party and concert in Paris. (AP Photo/Adrienne Surprenant)
Paris calling: After Tokyo, Olympians hanker for 2024 Games

By John Leicester Aug. 08, 2021 09:45 PM EDT

Volunteers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus hold a social distancing sign as they gather in-line to watch the final round of the men's golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Kawagoe, Japan. Japan is playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. But the capital, as well as other populous areas, are in the middle of a government-declared "state of emergency" to curb surging COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
EXPLAINER: What Olympic host Japan’s COVID ‘emergency’ means

By Yuri Kageyama Aug. 05, 2021 12:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2021, file photo, a visitor receives a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Tokyo Vaccination Center at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo. In a new government policy that was debated in parliament on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, coronavirus patients with moderate symptoms will isolate at home instead of in hospitals, as new cases surge in Tokyo to record levels during the Olympic Games. (Stanislav Kogiku/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan to limit hospital care as COVID-19 cases hit new high

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 04, 2021 05:51 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2021, file photo, United States' Tamyra Marianna Stock Mensah, left, and Japan's Sara Dosho compete during the women's 68kg freestyle wrestling match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Chiba, Japan. Tokyo Olympians are exercising extraordinary discipline against the coronavirus. They are sealed off in a sanitary bubble that has made competition possible but is also squeezing a lot of fun from their Olympic experience. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
Clean, repeat: At Tokyo Games, virus is Olympians' chief foe

By John Leicester Aug. 02, 2021 10:26 PM EDT

Olympic volunteer Atsushi Muramatsu shows business-card size flyers to express gratitude for support from overseas, during an interview with The Associated Press in Rifu, Japan, Thursday, July 29, 2021. He made the flyers to hand out to foreign media covering the 2020 Summer Olympics at Miyagi Stadium, where he is serving as a volunteer. (AP Photo/Chisato Tanaka)
Olympic volunteers strive to share stories of 3/11 disaster

By Chisato Tanaka Aug. 01, 2021 11:31 PM EDT

Workers, center, help direct a man into a booth for a coronavirus infection test at the Main Press Center for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. About 30,000 people from scores of nations are spitting into tiny plastic vials every day at the Olympics in a routine that’s grown crucial in going ahead with the pandemic-era Games, according to organizers. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
In effort to curb COVID, Tokyo Olympics collect lots of spit

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 30, 2021 01:55 AM EDT

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara combs her hair at her house in Conakry, Guinea, Wednesday July 21, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)
Denied ticket over COVID, Guinean Olympian clings to dream

By Gerald Imray, Boubacar Diallo And Trisha Thomas Jul. 29, 2021 02:46 AM EDT

Women wash clothes at the house of Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara in Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)
Denied ticket over COVID, Guinean Olympian clings to dream

By Gerald Imray, Boubacar Diallo And Trisha Thomas Jul. 29, 2021 02:34 AM EDT

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk past extra papers reporting on Japanese gold medalists at Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo reports record virus cases days after Olympics begin

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 27, 2021 08:29 AM EDT

Naomi Osaka carries the Olympic Torch during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP)
The Latest: Osaka lights cauldron at Tokyo opening ceremony

Jul. 22, 2021 09:51 PM EDT

U.S. first lady Jill Biden waves upon arrival at Yokota U.S. Air Force Base, outskirts of Tokyo, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Biden represented the U.S. government at the Tokyo Olympics, to attend the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday, July 23. (Kyodo News via AP)
Tokyo new virus cases near 2,000 a day before Olympics open

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 22, 2021 06:27 AM EDT

This undated photo released by Tokyo 2020 shows Kentaro Kobayashi, a key director of Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremony. The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee dismissed the director of the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 22, 2021 because of a Holocaust joke he made during a comedy show in 1998. (©Tokyo 2020 via AP)
Olympic opening ceremony director fired for Holocaust joke

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 21, 2021 11:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, May 24, 2021 file photo, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at the WHO headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland. The head of the World Health Organization said Thursday, July 15 that he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus and acknowledged it was premature to rule out that the pandemic may have been linked to a laboratory leak. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP, File)
WHO leader says virus risk inevitable at Tokyo Olympics

By Graham Dunbar Jul. 20, 2021 10:37 PM EDT

People gather Wednesday, July 21 , 2021, in Brisbane, Australia, for the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 2032 Summer Olympics bid. The Australian city was the inevitable winner of a one-candidate race steered by the IOC to avoid rival bids. (Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP)
The Latest: Top shooter tests positive, will miss Tokyo

Jul. 20, 2021 10:34 PM EDT

In this July 15, 2021, file photo, people walk by the Olympic rings installed by the Nippon Bashi bridge in Tokyo. A Ugandan athlete who fled during his pre-game training in western Japan last week has been found and being interviewed by police, officials said Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)
Ugandan who fled pre-Olympics camp found in central Japan

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 20, 2021 05:54 AM EDT

Ugandan athlete missing from training camp in Japan

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 16, 2021 05:35 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Local officials are searching for a Ugandan athlete who went missing in western Japan on Friday in a case raising questions over Japanese...

Deputy Executive Director, Marketing & Senior Director of Ticketing of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Suzuki Hidenori, left, and Spokesperson of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Masa Takaya attend a press conference regarding Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic organizers stated yesterday that spectators would be barred from most events at the Games after a new state of emergency was announced in response to a surge in coronavirus cases. The state of emergency will run throughout the Olympic Games and remain in place until August 22. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo Olympics: Spectators also barred from outlying venues

By Stephen Wade Jul. 10, 2021 08:46 AM EDT