TROWBRIDGE international high jumper Tom Gale believes the Tokyo Olympics should go ahead this summer.

Already postponed a year due to Covid-19, the organisers are coming under pressure to pull the plug on the biggest sporting event in the world because of the continuing uncertainty.

Only last weekend, Lord Seb Coe, the President of World Athletics, said the Games should go ahead behind closed doors if it is a choice between that or cancelling the event.

And from within Japan it appears there is growing domestic unease about the prospects of allowing 11,000 athletes into the country let along the accompanying media bandwagon and sports fans from around the world.

As far as the UK’s number one high jumper is concerned, Gale is trying to keep his head down and focus on training to ensure he is in peak conditions to make his debut on the biggest sporting stage in the world.

“My opinion at the moment is that I want the Olympics to go ahead but obviously that is a biased opinion because I have been training for it,” said Gale.

“But should it go ahead? I can’t really say as I don’t know exactly what they are doing to make it as safe as possible.

“But if the organisers are taking all the precautions that other sports are doing to keep athletes safe, and if you fail a test you are out and can’t travel then I see no reason why it shouldn’t.

“And, personally speaking, if it makes the difference to whether the Olympics go ahead or not then I would agree to competing in front of no crowds, even though I much prefer to do so as I compete better in front of people.

“Ultimately the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the Japanese Government will make that decision so there is not much I can do to affect that.”

The continuing indecision over not just whether the Olympics will go ahead but also the summer schedule for athletics is clearly not conducive to creating a stable environment for an athlete to focus on his immediate goals.

But Gale is determined not to get side-tracked by issues that he cannot control and vowed to keep his sights firmly focussed on getting to Tokyo.

“It is a strange situation for sure, but going ahead I am preparing as if the Olympics will take place in August,” added Gale.

“If you don’t keep that mentality you could be wasting your time. I have to make sure I am ready to compete if the Games get the go-ahead.

“I want to be ready to go there and try and win a medal – and if I don’t win a medal then at least have a great experience which will help me win a medal in the future.

“In the meantime I am trying to avoid the news! There is so much fake news out there but also some positive stuff also and at times you don’t know who to believe.

“So, I will just concentrate on my training and we’ll have to see what happens.”