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The Tokyo Olympics will go on, but in name only

10 Comments
By PAUL NEWBERRY

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Or, more likely, nothing more than a giant sigh of relief.

Indeed. We'll start seeing realistic case numbers published then too. The current numbers are missing a zero at the end of each day's announcement.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Indeed. We'll start seeing realistic case numbers published then too. The current numbers are missing a zero at the end of each day's announcement.

Exactly! Well said!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This quote ays it all: “There's too much money at stake for there to be any other outcome.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

At this point the only thing to see is if the games turn out to be either a disaster or a huge disaster, all pretenses of the supposed values they are meant to represent became impossible to hold since months ago, and now everybody is well aware the only reason they are being pushed against the will (and the health) of the people is because of money.

Sad is also the situation of the athletes, that are being held hostage of the event, their careers now depend on attending a sad shadow of what they were expecting while pretending it is all a dream.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Always compelling but today, could we have your comments with ‘a bit more punctuation’ and ‘a little less caffeine’ @virusrex 8:57am ? ; )

- “At this point the only thing to see is if the games turn out to be either a disaster or a huge disaster, all pretenses of the supposed values they are meant to represent became impossible to hold since months ago, and now everybody is well aware the only reason they are being pushed against the will (and the health) of the people is because of money. Sad is also the situation of the athletes, that are being held hostage of the event, their careers now depend on attending a sad shadow of what they were expecting while pretending it is all a dream.” -

Take a moment to breathe. Really though, what’s your point(s)? ; )

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

To prevent the Summer Olympics becoming a super-spreader event, the Japanese government needs to get its act together and see to it that all athletes and support personnel are vaccinated. What would that require? Ten thousand doses? Twenty thousand doses? The US is currently vaccinating more than three million people every day. There is still time to do what needs to be done, but does the Japanese government have the ability to get it done?

I do not know what the situation is with the other countries with vaccine manufacturing plants, but in the US we are rapidly approaching the point in time when there will be more doses available than people who are willing to take them. Perhaps the Japanese PM or an appropriate staff member could get in touch with Pres. Biden and attempt to set up an emergency delivery of doses, to prevent the Olympics from being cancelled. There are already several deep red states in the South reporting a surplus of available vaccines. Perhaps they would be willing to repurpose a few thousand for shipment to Japan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"...Sadly, no matter how the IOC tries to spin it, everyone in the Pandemic Games will be walking on eggshells until the flame is extinguished on Aug. 8.

Only then can the celebration really begin.

Or, more likely, nothing more than a giant sigh of relief...."

I'm always surprised at how such articles fail to mention the Paralympics which will take place on August 24th ~ Sept 5th.

How any reasonable minded person - official, politician, journo etc - can state there will be a "sigh of relief" when the games finish (Aug 8th), without taking into account the logistical and procedural nightmare required to hold a safe Paralympics just 2 weeks later?

1,000s of athletes / teams with far more assistants and special needs required than stage 1 rarely gets a nod of recognition in the media.

I wonder how many emergency staff, medicos, procedures, hospitals, etc are set ready to go at the drop, in case of an outbreak of covid amongst the para community?

I pray such a terrible incident doesn't eventuate - because atm on face value, uncertainty ranks high.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Sad is also the situation of the athletes, that are being held hostage of the event, their careers now depend on attending a sad shadow of what they were expecting while pretending it is all a dream.

Let's be honest here. Everybody who strives and competes and achieves something wants and needs people, spectators, supporters to support them, cheer then on and be proud of them. Everybody needs that! Competing to an empty audience, even to recorded cheers or dummies in stadiums is just plain unhuman. It ain't the same, man. Until the human race beats this virus (and it will) we need to put our heads together and stay safe.

Call off the Games until next year, Tokyo! If you do the bonanza windfalls you will reap will be enormous. You'll reap up more yen then ever hoped for if you just delay the Games.

Call the Olympic Games off for 2021. Do them next year!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Cash for the Few, v Care for Japanese Citizens.

And the Winner Is.

The I O C deems Japanese Lives Unimportant, it wants The Cash!!!!

Cancel The Games Now and save hundreds of lives.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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