Canada sending 371 athletes to Tokyo, largest Olympic team in 37 years
225 identify as female or are competing in women's events while 146 identify as male or are competing in men's events.
Team Canada is taking 371 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics, the country’s largest Games contingent since Los Angeles in 1984, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday.
The roster includes 40 Olympic medalists and 226 rookies. Of the total number of athletes, 225 identify as female or are competing in women’s events while 146 identify as male or are competing in men’s events. They will be accompanied by 131 coaches.
“This is a very special moment for these 371 athletes, who have faced some of the most challenging circumstances over the past 16 months to be named to Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 delegation,” Eric Myles, COC chief sport officer, said in a statement.
“The fact that we have the largest Canadian team at a Summer Olympics in over 35 years speaks volumes to the focus and resilience of Canadian athletes and the sport community.”
A state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic will cover the entire duration of the event, which caused fans to be banned from attending.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics will run from July 23 to Aug. 3 and it’s the second time the Japanese capital has held the event. The delayed edition of the Summer Games will feature 339 events across 33 sports and 50 disciplines.
Eight team sports
Eight teams competing in women’s soccer, basketball, softball, rugby sevens and water polo and men’s volleyball, rugby sevens and field hockey ties the most for a non-boycotted, non-hosted Summer Games, and swells Canada’s numbers particularly on the women’s side.
All eight teams qualified before the COVID-19 pandemic that delayed Tokyo’s 2020 Summer Games a year.
CBC.ca
