British Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on during a visit to a coronavirus vaccination center at the Health and Well-being Centre in Orpington, south-east London, on Monday. Photo: Jeremy Selwyn/Pool via AP)
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British PM Johnson backs Tokyo's hosting of Olympics

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Boris's "bird's nest" apparently camouflages a balding pate, but there is no hiding his utter lack of competence in his position as PM. His ludicrous daily costume change is more suited to a vaudeville act than the serious job of governing the country. Whatever he "backs" I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Another good reason NOT to hold them

Reality check: Boris was London mayor and an Olympics cheerleader when that city held its highly successful Olympics, and is credited for much of the event's success. Tokyo needs all such support it can get.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Danny NguyenToday  12:23 am JST

My opinion regarding this statement is that Japan are already receiving information from the United Kingdom on how to host sporting events safely and perhaps even more. If there is no such information sharing, I don't think the British government would have committed this far out forward. Furthermore, the UK is currently on course to meet their very ambitious vaccination goals within the next few weeks.

I have been watching how they got things working out in the Premier League since last summer and more recently in the Australian Open. I think the Olympics can work something out even though I remain somewhat skeptical because of how lax some countries may be when it comes to testing their own athletes before they get on the plane. That being said, it's all about how tight a country wil apply control protocols.

Good points, however, Japan (and all other Countries) should concede and not go forward with attempting to host the Summer Olympics this soon. I don't care how other countries are slowly bringing back sporting events - that's great - but I still feel that it's 100% irresponsible to try and host the Olympics now. It's too soon, the vaccine is just getting out to people. Japan's COVID-19 numbers are going up everyday and now you want to introduce external foreigners into your country? I say "No!" - wait for Japan to contain and control the pandemic in their country first.

That being said, I would be glad if competitions take place because it would be a good reminder of fundamentals on what Olympics should be all about: sports and celebrating the best of humanity.

Nobody is saying that cancelling the Olympics is going against this statement. I've stated in a number of comments in past articles on JapanToday.com that I want to see the Summer Olympics happen - but only when it's safe for everyone to take part. Forcing the event when it doesn't need to be is very irresponsible and not best for humanity.

I'm not trying to belittle the Olympics but in the larger picture and scheme of things, it's just a sporting event. I was so looking forward to the 2020 Olympics because of the return of Baseball and Women Softball. But I don't feel that it's worth forcing the Olympics just for that. It's not worth jeopardizing another outbreak.

I'm curious to see if the 2022 Winter Olympics is going to happen. In theory we should all be vaccinated by then but you never know. If it too gets cancelled because of COVID-19 then we have a much larger issue at hand - COVID-19 would have been with us for nearly 3 years!

Again -- JAPAN and the IOC! STOP TRYING TO FORCE THIS EVENT! Here, this is from one of my earlier comments to another article that you can use to send to the media:

"Japan and IOC! Here, copy and paste this:

"The 2020/2021 summer Olympics is cancelled. We are disappointed that it has turned out this way but in the larger scheme of things this is the best decision for everyone. We feel for all the athletes and fans that were looking forward to attending but it would be irresponsible of us to try and host the event this year. We are hopeful that the 2024 summer Olympics will go on as scheduled. Thank you again and please be safe! Japan and the IOC."

Reference: https://japantoday.com/category/sports/Foreign-volunteers-for-Tokyo-Olympics-stuck-in-virus-limbo

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That’s very rude and unfair. PM Boris Johnson himself explained that, saying he has of course got combs and tries, but since childhood although his mother and he tries whatever possible his hair just doesn’t get into any style. So it’s not his fault, also no disease, but mor like a small visible hair ‘anomaly’.

It's his fault for not having the social intelligence to get a haircut that works for his hair type, preventing ridicule. It's like bald guys who do combovers. Sorry mate, nature has decided you don't get long hair. Shave it off or look like a fool.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Sven AsaiToday  12:25 am JST

That’s very rude and unfair. PM Boris Johnson himself explained that, saying he has of course got combs and tries, but since childhood although his mother and he tries whatever possible his hair just doesn’t get into any style. So it’s not his fault, also no disease, but mor like a small visible hair ‘anomaly’.

Yeah, right. So why does he always run his hand through it to rough it up? He started the slight birds nest look in 2003 hosting a TV show, then took it to extreme in search of a trick to get photographed and noticed as a politician. It's an invention.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Boris Johnson gives it the green light..

The man is a walking disaster!

Economy looking the worst it has been since 1709 and COVID running rampant not to mention U.K exports down 60 % due to Brexit red tape!

Boris and the conservatives- utterly useless imbeciles!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Sven Asai, He could go for a buzzcut or a shaved head, either one would look more appealing than the bird's nest he presently sports atop his bonce.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's hard to take someone who can't even organize their hair seriously.

That’s very rude and unfair. PM Boris Johnson himself explained that, saying he has of course got combs and tries, but since childhood although his mother and he tries whatever possible his hair just doesn’t get into any style. So it’s not his fault, also no disease, but mor like a small visible hair ‘anomaly’.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My opinion regarding this statement is that Japan are already receiving information from the United Kingdom on how to host sporting events safely and perhaps even more. If there is no such information sharing, I don't think the British government would have committed this far out forward. Furthermore, the UK is currently on course to meet their very ambitious vaccination goals within the next few weeks.

I have been watching how they got things working out in the Premier League since last summer and more recently in the Australian Open. I think the Olympics can work something out even though I remain somewhat skeptical because of how lax some countries may be when it comes to testing their own athletes before they get on the plane. That being said, it's all about how tight a country wil apply control protocols.

That being said, I would be glad if competitions take place because it would be a good reminder of fundamentals on what Olympics should be all about: sports and celebrating the best of humanity. There are many other ways to make money out there, but the better news about the concept of bubble Olympics is the considerable lowering in security costs (which is the thing that has driven hosting countries insane since 1996).

Wait and see, I guess.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Desparate suga wants olympics to happen no matter what. He can have his Olympic it wont bother me nor affect me as I will stay home, work from home and avoid trains during the olympics to avoid contacting any Covid infected anons.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's hard to take someone who can't even organize their hair seriously.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan and the UK are pinning various hopes on mutual cooperation and economic activity.

TheJapanese know that the Brits manufacture some pretty lethal armaments which could be useful to the Japanese if they find themselves in a conflict down south...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Doesn't matter what the plebs want anyway. The Olympics will happen.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Bojo’s commercial broadcasting lobbyists have pull. It will be the first remote virtual Olympics, "safe" with simulated audiences and simulated digitized competitors.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I’m an English man and am not surprised this elite buffoon supports a event that benifits fellow elite buffoons. I recall him hanging from a wire while mayor of my home city.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Luddite..... covid is endemic here? So where are they hiding the bodies?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

so fears of virus importation are a little exaggerated

Clinging to the myth that all cases have come from abroad. Don’t be disingenuous, covid is endemic here and the biggest risk is transmission within the country, not from abroad. The Olympics would be the superspreading event, bar none.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The athletes will be tested and have their movements restricted. "Fans" will not be allowed to come in any serious numbers. If the vaccination program goes as planned then Japanese fans will be filling/ social distance filling the stadiums. So pretty much like every other Olympics in the past. Media and staff will also be tested so fears of virus importation are a little exaggerated.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

British PM Johnson backs Tokyo's hosting of Olympics

The news is a decoy drawing attention away from other critical issues whose details both Japan and the UK don't want published.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

We think what waiFu is trying to say is "covfefe", instead of "civvies".

@blvtpzk 6:44p JST "What, pray tell, are “civvies of vaccines”???

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Johnson is king of the U-turn, so this may be good news of Olympic skeptics.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I heard Trudeau said ‘let me get back to you on that’ when Suga asked if Canadian athletes will go. That seems like a perfectly responsible response.

in fact, I would have countered with ‘how soon will you vaccinate your people?”

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Well then, divert all your civvies of vaccines to us in Japan.

What, pray tell, are “civvies of vaccines”???

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Oh, it's OK then. It has the backing of Boris, the patron saint of lost causes.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

...completing it after all the preparation would be a huge success and a symbolic sign of optimism...

I've got no dog in the Olympics and one of the many who are tired of "symbols" and "glasses half-full". I'll just keep shielding inside like the groundhog until I can't see my own shadow when the vaccines or cures arrive.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Google “long Covid19” and boho “health history”, and “effects on brain on recovered patients”.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Yeah... I don't suspect ANY back scratching going on here.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The man himself has spoken and we should all listen to his sound advice. What a big joke coming from a Prime minister whose country currently has one the highest death tolls per inhabitant in the world. The disastrous way in which the pandemic was handled in the UK is nothing to envy. The economy is also in a big mess.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

It's like this guy has permanent static electricity.

I wonder how much waffling he did this time on the phone.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Truly madness.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Meanwhile, the British economy is at the worst period in the last 300 years.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-economy-suffers-biggest-slump-in-300-years-amid-covid-19-lockdowns-11613118912

PM BoJo has no credibility.

8 ( +15 / -7 )

needs to go shorter on the sides

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Boris "backed" Brexit, 'nuff said.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

The kiss of death.

Take the money that you would spend on these #$"!% Olympics and get Japan and the rest of the world vaccinated

It's already been spent and it's not coming back.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Well then, divert all your civvies of vaccines to us in Japan.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

British PM Johnson backs Tokyo's hosting of Olympics

Another good reason NOT to hold them

16 ( +21 / -5 )

What else could Johnson say. Not enough people will be vaccinated in Japan by the time the Games are due to start, and most athletes and officials from most countries will still be unvaccinated. It’s insane to hold the Games at this point.

23 ( +23 / -0 )

Well, with his support it's a given that the Olympics will happen for sure.

Stop this Olympics nonesense already. 80% of Japanese don't care and most of the world probably feels the same. Take the money that you would spend on these #$"!% Olympics and get Japan and the rest of the world vaccinated, so the world can get back to some sense of normality.

24 ( +26 / -2 )

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