Last year, Tokyo was to host one of the most anticipated Olympic Games in decades.
Covid ended the tournament, but the athletes are now in the Japanese capital preparing to compete later this week, and many of them are from Staffordshire.
We are proud to have several competitors from Burton, as well as Stafford, Uttoxeter, Stone and Stoke.
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A list of all of them is at the end of this article, with information on who Staffordshire residents should cheer on a bit more Friday.
They are gearing up for the games, despite covid disruption dominating the build-up.
Earlier this month, two athletes living in the Olympic Village had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Olympics will open on Friday under a state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures.
There will be no fans watching the games and the emergency order lasts until August 22.
Last week, the South African seven-a-side rugby team was forced into quarantine for four days due to close contacts of a passenger who tested positive on his flight to Tokyo.
Although 17 of the 18 affected staff members were subsequently allowed to continue to their training camp, it is understood that one of them remains in quarantine.
A Games official was the first Village-based individual to test positive on Saturday, July 17.
