What Psychological Impact Does A 'No-Crowds Olympics' Have On Athletes?

While the fan-less Tokyo Olympics isn’t shaping up to be the joyless games some predicted it might be, the games have been a little more subdued than usual. Out of concern for rising Covid-19 cases, spectators were banned from the usually bustling venues and stadiums of the Olympics at the eleventh hour, putting pressure on coaches and teammates to supply even more supportive cheering than usual. Bruce Walker, professor in the Schools of Psychology and Interactive Computing, gives his take on how that may impact athletes and the competition.