Something about the Olympics felt off this year as they got underway. The usual buzz and anticipation were overshadowed by lingering disappointment from the Euros and an undercurrent of anxiety and frustration about the pandemic and “pingdemic” has made it hard to focus on something as cheering as the Games. Only 36 per cent of people in the UK say they are interested in the Tokyo Olympics, compared to 46 per cent back in 2016.