Tokyo Olympics 2020: Australia’s athletes pass time playing ‘backyard cricket’ inside the village

Australian Olympians have settled into their home-away-from-home with a friendly match of backyard cricket inside the Tokyo athletes’ village.

In a video uploaded to TikTok, athletes dressed in green and gold are seen coming together to enjoy a friendly backyard cricket bash, while they quarantine in their Australian-only accommodation bubble.

The uniquely Australian moment was captured by 27-year-old tennis star Daria Gavrilova, who represented the country in the 2016 Rio games.

Viewers flooded the video praising the group for bonding over a classic Australian pastime.  

‘I wonder who is watching from the other countries, they must be confused,’ wrote one person. 

‘This is the most Aussie thing, backyard cricket at the Olympics,’ added another.

‘I love how they are playing cricket, true Aussie’s right there!’ wrote a third. 

The video comes as the first arrivals headed into the village on 17 July, offering a rare glimpse into Olympic life. 

A large statue of an emu and kangaroo sits in front of the Australian accommodation quarters of the village, across from the Harumi Port Park. 

The Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) safety protocols inside the Athlete’s village have gone above and beyond to keep team members safe during the event, exceeding the requirements of Tokyo Organisers. 

Despite a fitness room already inside the village, with treadmills, weights and bikes for more than 500 athletes, the AOC have the space off-limits for its teams.

An Australians-only gym was set up to reduce the risk of transmission from other teams.