Supporters urged to “pack less, wait less”

Security, COVID-19 countermeasures checked at three-day tests

Trial run: Security officers conduct a screening test on volunteers during the three-day exercise.

Tokyo Olympics organisers wrapped up three days of tests on Wednesday, trialling a number of security and COVID-19 countermeasures and asking supporters and officials to pack less to wait less when entering venues during the Games.

During the tests at Tokyo Big Sight, a convention centre that will host the media during the postponed Games next year, organisers assessed various technologies to monitor body temperatures of spectators.

‘Thermometer strips’

As seen at other sporting events during the pandemic, thermology cameras and non-contact infrared thermometers were used but organisers also tested the use of ‘thermometer strips’.

The strips, which were pasted onto the wrists of volunteers being used in the trial, contain heat-sensitive liquid crystals and can immediately detect if the wearer has a fever. Another key element of the field test was checking how smoothly spectators can pass through the inspection area while other measures, such as social distancing in queues, are being enforced.

Volunteers presented security personnel with more than 40 different scenarios, including forgetting to wear a mask and trying to bring an aerosol can through security, to test their readiness for the Games.

Happy with initiative

Organisers were happy with the testing but said more trials will be needed when full COVID-19 protocols are decided. “Pack less, wait less. We don’t want to delay the excitement, so please come with very little luggage,” urged Tokyo 2020 Security Director Tsuyoshi Iwashita. “For the testing of security measures, probably this is the last one,” he added.