Pippa Roome looks ahead to Tokyo and explains why she’s changed her opinion on arena familiarisation before the dressage phase of eventing
THERE is plenty of press coverage on the shifting, confusing requirements for a few days’ quarantine or “pseudo-quarantine”, in which “essential Games-related activities” are allowed, on arrival in Tokyo for the Olympics . But this coverage is not always put in the context of the restrictions in place throughout the Games.
While I appreciate the potential for the event to become a Covid “super-spreader”, I wonder whether all those opposing the Olympics going ahead understand the reality of life at this Games.
{"content":"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"}
.
This exclusive column is also available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale date Thursday 1 July
● What do you think about arena familiarisation? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com for the chance to win a bottle of Champagne Taittinger
You may also be interested in…
H&H's Pippa Roome, Peter Nixon and Alice Collins at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Credit: Peter Nixon
H&H's Pippa Roome reflects on the countdown to the Olympics, from form filling to clothes shopping and Covid testing…
H&H’s Pippa Roome and other journalists interviewing William Fox-Pitt in the mixed zone at the Rio Olympics after his dressage test
As the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks are released, H&H’s Pippa Roome blogs about the reality of going to the rescheduled Olympics
A press conference at Burghley 2016.
Credit: Peter Nixon
Tennis player Naomi Osaka’s decision not to speak to the press during the French open raises questions about how media
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.