'Can't help but cheer:' Some in Japan warm to Olympics Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/ People cheer on athletes during the women's individual triathlon competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI AFP-Jiji Jul 28, 2021 After months of opposition, some people in Japan are warming to the pandemic-hit Olympics, with fans defying authorities to cheer athletes on public roads and rushing to snap up Games merchandise. It hasn't hurt that Japan's athletes have enjoyed a gold rush in the first four days of the Games, triumphing in sports from judo to skateboarding to top the medals table with 10 golds ahead of the United States and China.