A typhoon could wreak havoc on the Tokyo Olympic Games next week, adding to their already tumultuous start.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency believes a storm developing in the Philippine Sea could head dangerously close to Tokyo. The storm warning is just the latest hurdle that organizers of the games have while facing a number of challenges including the persistence of COVID-19. But for Olympic surfers, according to Newsweek, the news couldn't be better.
"There's going to be good waves, there's a strong typhoon here off the coast of Japan, and we know that the waves are getting bigger," said Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association.
According to Australian surfer Owen Wright, the possibility of a typhoon is promising. Initially, members of the Olympic surfing community shared worries that the waves at the event near Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach were too small for them to showcase their skills.
"I just finished my first warm up session at the comp site ... Yess it's small but there is swell on the way! Let's go!" Wright said on Instagram.
New Zealand surf coach Matt Scorringe shared his anticipation of the storm, saying that "the waves have been a little bit small thus far, but there's a really good swell on the way, looking like some great winds for maybe Monday, so that should give us a good platform to showcase for the world what it's all about."
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.