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Are Japan and the IOC past the point of no return for canceling the Tokyo Olympics?

34 Comments
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IMO, they can still cancel the event, we're still several weeks from it anyway. The question will depend on how much political power the Japanese government has in deciding on scrapping the Olympics should the situation really demand it.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

They should have canceled it several months ago. If they canceled it now there would be so many law suits.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Its NEVER too late to save lives which is exactly what they would be doing if they cancelled the event

20 ( +22 / -2 )

Such an unhappy event .

10 ( +14 / -4 )

If the polls are correct and 60% of the folks here in Japan want cancellation they should seriously consider cancelling the games.

If the Suga Administration had rolled up their sleeves back in January or February, gotten serious, and gotten to work on the vaccinations in a realistic way and started vaccinating at the pace they have done in Israel, the UK, and the US the Olympics could have been held. Over 50% of the population would have been vaccinated by now, and people would have been a lot more optimistic.

But, they didn't.

I do not think their inaction was deliberate, nor that they were looking for some type of pecuniary gain as some have suggested. They just seemed to really not care.

You can bet if their sons or daughters, or grandchildren were participating in the Olympics things would have been different.

Hopefully the public will remember this come election time and vote these guys out of office.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Only if by "point of no return" it means the point where the loss of resources, bad publicity, extra troubles, etc. could have been reduced to a minimum, cancelling from now on becomes more and more complicated and expensive by the day but if the public health deteriorates quickly and importantly thanks to the lack of vaccination, new variants, etc. canceling the event can still be necessary, no matter how much is lost.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

There is no point of no return in a pandemic. IOC out! We need our doctors and nurses and our resources more than we need this capitalistic parasitic Olympics. And frankly the athletes and staff do not need the dangers of the pandemic.

IOU out. Pack up and go. You will not be missed.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I think its past the point of no return. 31st May is ABSOLUTE last chance.

I suspect that the SOE will be terminated on the 28th (effective 1st June)

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Downvote as you please. IOC are the only ones that can cancel. Its a simple contract.

https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/hostcitycontract-EN.pdf

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

The worst may be procrastination without any decision, without deadline and without will.

If the Games is to be held (I know it's highly unpopular scenario), impose draconian lock-down in Tokyo, devote all healthcare resources to vax blitz, fully control national AND Tokyo-metro borders at expense of civil liberty.

If cancelled, negotiate compensation schemes for damage (send invoices to Beijing?).

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Basically Japan would lose all the money it put into it.

We already will lose a lot. Not holding it at all would cost billions more.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Let the games begin! Stop cowering...

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

We already will lose a lot. Not holding it at all would cost billions more.

And how will you spend any saved money when you die from the massively in brought virus loads and all thinkable variants? Quite difficult to pay and consume anything out from a coffin. lol

7 ( +9 / -2 )

It's those people working behind the scenes I feel sorry for. Not the bigwigs and politicians. All that effort and time away from their families to set the event and facilities up.

But even if the Games do go ahead (and I don't think they will), it will always be mired in controversy.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

theResidentToday 10:48 am JST

Downvote as you please. IOC are the only ones that can cancel. Its a simple contract.

https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/hostcitycontractEN.pdf

And the government can post the JSDF at all airports and stop all foreigners that are not residents from coming in. Problem solved. Sovereign country.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

The Olympics should be postponed until 2022. By then most of the World should have been vaccinated so the games would be fantastic. To have them this year, in the midst of a continuing global pandemic, is utterly ridiculous and dangerous.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The games cannot be postponed again.... Not an option ..sorry.

The final decision to hold the games was made at the end of February, with nothing short of a 9/11 or Fukushima event stopping them. The costs of the games will not be recovered if they are held or not. Its a huge waste of money but always was going to be regardless of any pandemic.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

It is mind boggling this question is even being asked considering the current situation here in Japan. Today’s poll (80% say cancel or delay) begs this question further.

I will abstain from voting on this one.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There is still time to cancel, but I fear that JG is too week and afraid of loosing face. Unfortunately this mentality is going to cost lives and those deaths will be on you Suga!!! Will you be able to sleep well at night knowing citizens died because of you?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No, because it's not only for Japan, that's a world event. Economically Japan has big damages, doing or cancelling will be the same. Just broadcasting right will be to IOC and JPN-Tokyo and JOC. That's kick-ass money!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Logistically? No.

Face-saving? Yes. And they won't.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

china should announce a boycott right before they are forced to cancel

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japanese old men don’t like to lose face.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As for as the IOC, they will say "Yes" no matter what to the Olympics, but blame everything on the host nation, including the decision to go ahead while the host nation says it's up to the IOC.

I believe the J-Gov'T COULD bail if it is made absolutely clear to them they will not be in power the day after it is held, and if medical workers strike, and it all gets more media attention. I also thjhink other countries need to start saying they won't come. That'll be an out for the government to keep blaming foreigners.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Everybody seems to be focused on foreigners bringing the virus to the Olympics. However, with an ever increasing number of new cases in Japan it is more likely the foreigners will contract the virus while they are in Japan. Most athletes will be vaccinated and will undergo regular testing. I don’t see what the problem is. “Let the games begin!”

0 ( +2 / -2 )

it is more likely the foreigners will contract the virus while they are in Japan. ..... I don’t see what the problem is. 

Erm, all those non-vaccinated, non-athlete foreigners contracting the virus while they're here, mixing in the ones some will inevitably bring with them, picking up new variants, and taking it back home to spread among their countryfolk?

You really see no problem?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Cleo - Erm, all those non-vaccinated, non-athlete foreigners contracting the virus while they're here,

I guess you missed the report that foreign spectators are banned. It’s only the Japanese spectators that will be spreading it, to other Japanese and foreigners who are not vaccinated.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I guess you missed the report that foreign spectators are banned. It’s only the Japanese spectators that will be spreading it, to other Japanese and foreigners who are not vaccinated.

I guess you missed the report that in addition to the some 15,000 athletes there will also be ‘visiting officials’ which it was announced a few days ago would be cut to 90,000.

90,000.

Twice that number were originally expected.

So for every vaccinated athlete there will be 4 hangers-on, with no word how many will be vaccinated.

And they won’t all be staying in the Olympic village, but scattered in hotels around Tokyo. Travelling every day on the streets, trains and buses, eating out and more likely than not fitting in a bit of sightseeing.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/14/national/olympics-visiting-officials-cut/

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If it weren’t for a lot of money involved, they would cancel the Olympics a long time ago.

Unfortunately, money is the ruler of the world, was and will be.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I tell you what is past the point of no return. Japan and IOC's credibility.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Of course not. Hey, worst case scenario the government can mandate that athletes are barred from drinking alcohol after 8 pm.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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