Tokyo 2020 Olympics: From the sidelines

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: From the sidelines

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Photographing the Olympic Games comes with highs and lows: the tedium of long journeys to and from the stadiums, managing with the restrictions of following COVID-19 protocols, setting up equipment, the thrill of getting the right shot. Reuters photographers do not just capture the action at the venues. They are also producing a set of pictures showing their own quirky view from behind the scenes as they travel in Tokyo to cover the events.

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Slideshow

Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach watches a worker cleaning his hotel window while in quarantine prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach watches a worker cleaning his hotel window while in quarantine prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

A coffee, a bread and a banana are seen during a breakfast table at a hotel where members of the media stay ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Fujisawa.
. Fijisawa, JAPAN. Reuters/Carlos Barria

A coffee, a bread and a banana are seen during a breakfast table at a hotel where members of the media stay ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Fujisawa.

Reuters photographers walk back to the hotel after finishing their assignments ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Reuters photographers walk back to the hotel after finishing their assignments ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Reuters photographer Carl Recine waits for a bus to Makuhari Messe, a venue for Olympic fencing tournament.
. Tokyo, JAPAN. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Reuters photographer Carl Recine waits for a bus to Makuhari Messe, a venue for Olympic fencing tournament.

People rush through Shibuya station two days ahead of the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

People rush through Shibuya station two days ahead of the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

People enjoy the view from Shibuya sky observatory ahead of the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

People enjoy the view from Shibuya sky observatory ahead of the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

View from the Shibuya sky observatory with the Olympic stadium ahead of the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

View from the Shibuya sky observatory with the Olympic stadium ahead of the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Office workers watch the Olympic Torch Relay ceremony.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

Office workers watch the Olympic Torch Relay ceremony.

Youngsters play basketball at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo.
. Tokyo, JAPAN. Reuters/Edgar Su

Youngsters play basketball at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo.

Smokers maintain social distance as they wait for their turn to smoke at a designated outdoor area of the Main Press Center.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Susana Vera

Smokers maintain social distance as they wait for their turn to smoke at a designated outdoor area of the Main Press Center.

Cables for photographers and broadcasters are seen at a pitch side photo position at Tokyo Stadium.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

Cables for photographers and broadcasters are seen at a pitch side photo position at Tokyo Stadium.

A photographer sets up a remote camera behind the goal post at Sapporo dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A photographer sets up a remote camera behind the goal post at Sapporo dome.

A reminder for social distancing is seen on a photo position at the venue for the taekwondo and wrestling competitions.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Murad Sezer

A reminder for social distancing is seen on a photo position at the venue for the taekwondo and wrestling competitions.

Seats marked for social distancing are pictured during the Tokyo Olympic Games.
. Ibaraki, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

Seats marked for social distancing are pictured during the Tokyo Olympic Games.

A cameraman is seen on empty stands at Sapporo Dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A cameraman is seen on empty stands at Sapporo Dome.

Volunteers check a pitch at Sapporo Dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Volunteers check a pitch at Sapporo Dome.

A boy practises violin in the parking lot next to the stadium at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

A boy practises violin in the parking lot next to the stadium at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo.

A man stretches in a street near the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games sailing venue in Enoshima Yacht Harbor, Fujisawa City.
. Fujisawa, Japan. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

A man stretches in a street near the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games sailing venue in Enoshima Yacht Harbor, Fujisawa City.

Ben Wei, announcer for the surfing competitions cools off at the Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach venue ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Ichinomiya.
. Ichinomiya, Japan. Reuters/Lisi Niesner

Ben Wei, announcer for the surfing competitions cools off at the Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach venue ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Ichinomiya.

A volunteer waves at journalists arriving at the Tokyo Stadium.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

A volunteer waves at journalists arriving at the Tokyo Stadium.

The driver of a media bus is reflected in a mirror during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Brian Snyder

The driver of a media bus is reflected in a mirror during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

A member of the military wearing personal protective equipment waits at a door monitoring the entrance of the Yumenoshima Archery Field.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A member of the military wearing personal protective equipment waits at a door monitoring the entrance of the Yumenoshima Archery Field.

A security personnel member stands guard in front of empty stands at Sapporo dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A security personnel member stands guard in front of empty stands at Sapporo dome.

A cameraman rests during a break in the weightlifting competition.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgard Garrido

A cameraman rests during a break in the weightlifting competition.

A security worker peers out from behind a fence outside Ariake Arena.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Mike Segar

A security worker peers out from behind a fence outside Ariake Arena.

Volunteers help to comb through the blue astro turf searching for a missing piece of jewellery on the field of play at Yumenoshima Archery Field.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Volunteers help to comb through the blue astro turf searching for a missing piece of jewellery on the field of play at Yumenoshima Archery Field.

A member of the staff prepares and tends to the pitch in the Miyagi Stadium.
. Miyagi, Japan. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A member of the staff prepares and tends to the pitch in the Miyagi Stadium.

A volunteer stands on a pitch at Sapporo dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A volunteer stands on a pitch at Sapporo dome.

A Tokyo 2020 Olympics' volunteer registers her sample at a saliva samples collection point for COVID-19 PCR tests.
. Sendai, Japan. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A Tokyo 2020 Olympics' volunteer registers her sample at a saliva samples collection point for COVID-19 PCR tests.

A photographer lays on the ground to rest from the heat, after the archery ranking qualifications at Yumenoshima Archery Field.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A photographer lays on the ground to rest from the heat, after the archery ranking qualifications at Yumenoshima Archery Field.

An employee cleans during a break in the Weightlifting competition at Tokyo International Forum.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgard Garrido

An employee cleans during a break in the Weightlifting competition at Tokyo International Forum.

An archery judge is sheltered with an umbrella during the games at Yumenoshima Archery Field.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

An archery judge is sheltered with an umbrella during the games at Yumenoshima Archery Field.

An athlete has her photo taken on the diving board at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

An athlete has her photo taken on the diving board at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Employees disinfect the seats during a break in the Weightlifting competition.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgard Garrido

Employees disinfect the seats during a break in the Weightlifting competition.

Security personnel are seen at Sapporo dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Security personnel are seen at Sapporo dome.

A driver waits for journalists on the media bus at the Media Press Center.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Pilar Olivares

A driver waits for journalists on the media bus at the Media Press Center.

An Olympic rings tattoo is seen on a journalist's leg, who is traveling on the media bus.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Pilar Olivares

An Olympic rings tattoo is seen on a journalist's leg, who is traveling on the media bus.

Gloves hang to dry in the warm air before the start of a soccer match at the International Stadium Yokohama.
. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Hannah McKay

Gloves hang to dry in the warm air before the start of a soccer match at the International Stadium Yokohama.

Volunteers move a goal post at Sapporo dome.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Volunteers move a goal post at Sapporo dome.

Olympic medals are displayed before a ceremony at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

Olympic medals are displayed before a ceremony at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo.

A worker stands inside the Saitama Super Arena, site of the basketball competition.
. Saitama, Japan. Reuters/Brian Snyder

A worker stands inside the Saitama Super Arena, site of the basketball competition.

A man sits in front of information terminals in the media center at the Saitama Super Arena.
. Saitama, Japan. Reuters/Brian Snyder

A man sits in front of information terminals in the media center at the Saitama Super Arena.

A worker walks outside the Saitama Super Arena, site of the basketball competition.
. Saitama, Japan. Reuters/Brian Snyder

A worker walks outside the Saitama Super Arena, site of the basketball competition.

Foot impressions of former players of the Kashima Antlers Football Club are showcased outside Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
. Kashima, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

Foot impressions of former players of the Kashima Antlers Football Club are showcased outside Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.

A police officer stands next to a giant football outside Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
. Kashima, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

A police officer stands next to a giant football outside Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.

An attendant pushes a trolley of bananas to the pantry of the media center at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
. Ibaraki, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

An attendant pushes a trolley of bananas to the pantry of the media center at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.

A man sets up for the Olympic race walk in Sapporo.
. Sapporo, Japan. Reuters/Feline Lim

A man sets up for the Olympic race walk in Sapporo.

A broadcasting drone is seen next to an aircraft landing at Haneda Airport during Canoe competitions.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

A broadcasting drone is seen next to an aircraft landing at Haneda Airport during Canoe competitions.

Medical team members sit by the pitch during a soccer match at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
. Ibaraki, Japan. Reuters/Edgar Su

Medical team members sit by the pitch during a soccer match at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.

Members of the military wearing protective masks look on in front of the Olympic rings at the Yoyogi National Stadium.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Members of the military wearing protective masks look on in front of the Olympic rings at the Yoyogi National Stadium.