{"id":8210,"date":"2021-07-22T08:53:23","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T15:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/?p=50000002781"},"modified":"2021-07-22T16:29:12","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T23:29:12","slug":"10-athletes-5-coaches-from-long-beach-to-compete-in-tokyo-olympic-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/10-athletes-5-coaches-from-long-beach-to-compete-in-tokyo-olympic-games","title":{"rendered":"9 athletes, 5 coaches from Long Beach to compete in Tokyo Olympic Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note: Since being interviewed for this article, beach volleyball Olympian Taylor Crabb tested positive for COVID-19<\/a> and will not compete at the games.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ten athletes and five coaches with ties to Long Beach traveled to Tokyo this week for what is certain to be an Olympic Games unlike any other in history.<\/p>\n

The local athletes will compete or participate in water polo, sailing, diving, softball, baseball, track and field and volleyball.<\/p>\n

The Olympians from Long Beach\u2014and from everywhere\u2014are achieving a lifelong dream, but are arriving in a country that does not want to host the Games because of a surge in COVID-19 cases. With the Opening Ceremonies scheduled for Friday, Tokyo organizer Toshiro Muto on Tuesday evening still could not rule out<\/a> the possibility of an \u201c11th hour\u201d cancelation of the games.<\/p>\n

The Japanese newspaper Asahi held a poll that found that 55% of Japanese citizens were opposed to the Olympics being held.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s put Olympians in a strange position where they\u2019re simultaneously jubilant about years of hard work paying off, but also aware that the usual community Olympic jubilation will not be there. Because of travel restrictions, athletes aren\u2019t allowed to bring any guests, including spouses.<\/p>\n

Only athletes, coaches, and other team staff have been permitted to enter Japan. Fans also won\u2019t be allowed in any of the venues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of weird to hear the Japanese people say they should cancel them altogether,\u201d said Long Beach State alum and USA Beach Volleyball Olympian Taylor Crabb. \u201cI think everyone working to put this on has done the absolute best job they can to keep everyone healthy and safe. I\u2019m thankful they\u2019re still doing it and I\u2019m excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crabb has since tested positive for COVID<\/a> and will not be competing at the games.<\/p>\n

For fellow Long Beach State alum TJ DeFalco, who an Olympian on the USA indoor men\u2019s volleyball team, it\u2019s unfortunate but also something he\u2019s not planning on dwelling on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of a negative, but man, the overwhelming thing is the fact that it\u2019s the Olympic Games, something I\u2019ve been dreaming of since I was a little kid,\u201d said DeFalco. \u201cOf course you\u2019d like to share these moments with family and loved ones, but being able to be there and experience it is still so special. It\u2019s just a little bummer, but I don\u2019t think anyone is going to dwell on it too much once things get started.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the Long Beach delegation heading to Tokyo; follow @562sports on Twitter<\/a> for live updates of how the Long Beach crew is doing.<\/p>\n