'You're so cool,' Japan mayor tells Australian softball Olympians

Members of Australia's Olympic softball squad, the first national team to arrive in Japan for pre-Olympic training camp since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, pose during their first practice session at a stadium in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, June 5, 2021, in this handout photo taken and released by Ota City. Ota City/Handout via REUTERS

OTA, Japan (Reuters) - The mayor of a Japanese city hosting Australia's softball team for a pre-Olympic training camp told them they were "cool" and wished them success, but predicted they would finish as runners-up to Japan.

The Australian women drew media attention when they arrived last week as the first national team to come to Japan for training since the Games were postponed last year over the coronavirus pandemic.