EDWINA BARTHOLOMEW 'TOKYO HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART'

THE SUNRISE STAR BRINGS A PERSONAL TOUCH TO THE GAMES

- Joshua Joynes

At long last, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are here – only it’s 2021 and five years have passed since the last one. But despite the long wait and strict COVID-19 regulations on the ground, Channel 7’s official Olympic host, Edwina Bartholomew, assures New Idea we’re all “in for a real treat”.

“I think the fact that it has been so long, not just for our athletes, but us viewers at home has only added to the excitement,” reveals the beloved Sunrise star.

“It’s actually our chance to take a little overseas trip without leaving the couch [laughs]. We’re all craving travelling at the moment.”

There’s still a week to go before Tokyo presses play on the opening ceremony. While Japan is keeping the specific details under lock and key, Edwina says fans can expect an Olympic-sized spectacle.

“Japanese culture is a mix of ancient history and the funky street culture – there’s a really cool spirit to Tokyo, so I think we’ll see that brilliant mix,” she reveals.

Certainly, Edwina is familiar with all that Japan has to offer, after spending six years of her adolescence there.

“I lived there from about the age of 9 to 15. My dad, who worked for BHP, his job took us over there,” Edwina explains, revealing that these games have a “very special place” in her heart.