politics

Koike says coronavirus situation improving; Olympics on track for 2021

46 Comments
By Mayu Yoshida and Ami Miyazaki

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46 Comments
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Tokyo has a disturbing history of manipulating the numbers to fit agendas

33 ( +36 / -3 )

Any mention of how they plan to let in tens of thousands of atheletes, their families, trainers, coaches, and IOC staff from 200 countries (not to mention the thought of all the sponsors and an int'l audiance), when they don't even have a clear picture on how to let in permanent residents and foreign family of Japanese?

And I know of no sports league on earth which has resumed so far which hasn't had players get infected and then pass it among their teammates and/or opposing teams. Would be curious to know how they plan to handle that too...

31 ( +33 / -2 )

In what way is the situation improving? Oh wait...if we conveniently ignore the pandemic then we can say that.

28 ( +30 / -2 )

Not a single day has Tokyo tested to the international standard thus not a single day will people come for an unsafe event

27 ( +29 / -2 )

Koike said in an interview with Reuters Television

PR. It's her job. At least she didn't claim coronavirus is dimished by sunbathing or drinking floor cleaner.

25 ( +26 / -1 )

"Koike says coronavirus situation improving; Olympics on track for 2021".

Keep lying, you have the freedom.

22 ( +22 / -0 )

In 35C heat? That's going to be interesting.

21 ( +24 / -3 )

Not Tokyo's or the IOC's decision. It's the athletes that ended the games, immediately following a tone deaf IOC speech. Millions remain out of work, atheletes cannot train, it's baffling the inability to understand

19 ( +20 / -1 )

I think it is highly unlikely the problem of the virus will be solved world-wide. Will the US be ready? Even if there is a vaccine, will Americans be able to afford it, will anti-vaxxers be forced to take it?

Why even plan for August, which everyone thinks will be too hot? August was chosen only to satisfy US commercial reasons, chosen so that the Olympics would not clash for TV time with their American football season.

I am actually quite surprised by this because I never imagined Koike had a sense of humour. Hoping for the Olympics next year hosted by Abe? More likely dreaming about the Olympics next year hosted by herself. Dream on.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Regardless of the situation in Tokyo, I think what is going on in the rest of the world will dictate what happens and right now the signs are not good, especially in the US. Either way, I plan to get out of Tokyo next August.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Does anyone have a big, hard reality stick to hit Koike on the head with?

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Oh put a sock in it, Koike. The corruption between Japan Inc., the IOC, and the J-politicians desperate to hold these effin' games is enraging.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

The number of new cases dropped to under a hundred on one day and bounced back up to nearly 200 the next day. How does this amount to an ‘improved’ situation.

All her hopes and dreams come down to only one thing, as effective vaccine. No vaccine equals no Tokyo games.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

It’s more than difficult to walk in this heat let alone run!

Tokyo is not the place for physical exertion in the summer

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Why mention this now? Just keep on working to control/eradicate the virus and everything else will follow if it's achieved

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Tuesday that the coronavirus situation in Japan's capital is improving

Is Koike the Governor of some parallel universe Tokyo that we are not aware of? This universes Tokyo is in no shape or form ready to host an Olympic Games of any kind.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Koike's word is debased coinage: the financial investment in the Tokyo Olympics was surely one reason why the Japanese government was so slow off the mark to deal with the pandemic. Caveat emptor!

11 ( +12 / -1 )

As much as Koike wants to sugar-coat a guano sandwich, the fact remains that Tokyo has not managed to get out from under the "first" wave.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

beyond wishful thinking

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Koike says coronavirus situation improving; Olympics on track for 2021

Idiot! That sock puppet is nothing more than Abe in a wig!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The Olympics will be fine! Why in Miyagi prefecture they tested as many as 25 people on Monday!

https://toyokeizai.net/sp/visual/tko/covid19/en.html

気にしないで

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Basically she and cronies can’t get the dividends from the high-end pre-sold Olympic Village apartments and penthouses until after the Olympics.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Olympics on track for 2021

For July-August, right? That won't go well.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

While I realise its her JOB to do this, she should really dial it WAY back for now, spouting pure BS like in this blurb will NOT help.

It will be decided by countries like Canada if they openly say they are unable to attend. The IPC said a day or so ago they WONT participate unless the whole virus thing has been cleaned up.......

And yeah the US, what a damned mess that place is with respect to the virus, seems unlikely to me the US will have their act together to be able to send a team!

And athletes worldwide still CANNOT properly train, hold test events etc etc.....I just dont see how on earth these games will happen, not seeing it at all

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Skeptical as I now am about this scam-demic, even I can see holding the Olympics next year simply isn't feasible.

Governments have invested too much in their respective responses to COVID-19, and the disproportionate economic damage this has wrought, to do any U-turns (such as allowing unrestricted international travel, necessary for an Olympics) soon.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The IOC won't be able to countermand, if the Government invokes a state of emergency declaration over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

There is also the question arising from a revised special law for fighting new types of influenza enacted in March

The IOC has no recognizable mandate, it is a simple at that.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Improving? Where? Also, the Olympics is a global event, so even if Japan manages to get things under control (doubtful), it won't mean a thing if there are other countries, especially Olympic medal contending ones, can't participate due to COVID-19. Keep dreaming Japan.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Hey Koike, how about we get to 2021 first, and then take it from there?

2020 has been going on for about 30 years now, who know what the world will be like then.

Your precious little olympics are about number 10,000 on everyone's priority list at the moment, so just calm down over there.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

sorry Koike don't think anyone cares about the 'pics anymore. I think people have other far more important priorities like, I dunno, not catching this damn virus, keeping their jobs......

6 ( +7 / -1 )

She said the same before they were postponed originally, too. She's just greasing up the old propaganda machine again, and that's all. What's more, the situation is NOT improving -- the people are just not getting tested, and if they are and prove positive, I know of at least a few companies/schools that have asked people not to tell anyone the results (which they clearly did). We saw that already with the company in Tokyo that finally had to admit what they were doing when some 50% + of employees tested positive. Yesterday I talked to a friend's daughter, who's in high school, and asked her why she's not in club. She said one member had tested positive, and two other students at the school, so all clubs were shut down -- except soft tennis, because they have a tournament soon (so therefore obviously immune). And, she had been asked, as had all the club members, not to explain the reason why, but to say it was in order to avoid heat stroke and to prepare for September tests.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Why is this in the politics section and not in sports? Oh right, the only valid reason to say that the Olympics will go on next year is politics.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It would be really cool if the Olympics were held and the world could get together and celebrate the defeat of the virus.

However at this point in time this does not seem practical and it is certainly way too early to make such proclamations. I am a bit concerned about the winter where the virus may mix with cold and flu virus and mutate again or cases may be masked due to people thinking they have a cold.

I am surprised she is starting to push this again at this point in time.

In the end of course I hope she is correct but it sure does not look promising now.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Dreeeeeeeeam, dream dream dreeeam. Dreeeeeeeeeam, dream dream dream.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"I think he is the one to host the 2020, actually 2021, Olympic and Paralympic Games," she said.

that is why abe is still trying his best to hold out his medical condition and not step down ? meaning 2800 + at least 365 ? does not sound good.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan only Olympics then, as it’s hard to have an international event when athletes and officials can’t enter Japan, that is if countries want to send a team here. You need to re-open Japan well before athletes and officials are due to arrive, not only for the economy but to reassure all those involved in the Games that non-Japanese are no longer being treated like pariahs.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You know, in terms of whether or not the Olympics can be hosted next year, my position is what it is always been. And that is the fact that still too soon to say whether or not it go on. Now in terms of how to handle all the athletes and spectators that will be showing up for the Olympics, well it depends on whether or not a vaccine is widely available. Because if it is, then we won’t have to worry nearly as much, it will be much less preparation to do, considering the vaccine that would be available. But if not, then it’s a question whether not the games can be even held at all.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They had better have the Olympics because my taxes paid for it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the COVID-19 pandemic is still rampant in the rest of the world, is she still going to let all those athletes come to Japan from overseas? I might move to Hokkaidou.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Do it like the UFC!

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

She's a super lady and gives confidence to her people, which is exactly what is needed

She should be the next PM.

-17 ( +0 / -17 )

Japan and the Tokyo governor have done the best they can! Koike Forever!

-23 ( +1 / -24 )

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