Voices
in
Japan

poll

Even before the coronavirus, were you in favor of Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics?

20 Comments
© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

20 Comments
Login to comment

Tokyo does not need these Olympics. Dreaming they would have even a fraction of the positive effects from the 1964 Games is just that. Dreaming.

By now everyone in the world knows Japan and Tokyo but sadly also, in 1964, Japan was a country on the rise, an exploding market, now it is an economy in decline. Even an iconic designed stadium was replaced by a bland Japanese design, with the excuse of cost saving but a, in the end, it cost more than if we had stuck to the original. All in the name of nationalism.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

Clearly Japan should have concentrated on Tohoku etc after 3\11 instead of the olympics!

12 ( +17 / -5 )

This is a good question to ask since it is worth reminding everyone that this was a brutally corrupt squandering of public money even before Covid.

The Pandemic has certainly made it exponentially worse, but lets not forget that even if things had gone according to plan this was going to be a colossal waste that enriched some extremely corrupt interests at everyone else's expense.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

GW:

Clearly Japan should have concentrated on Tohoku etc after 3\11 instead of the olympics!

Instead, they used Tohoku as an excuse to hold the Olympics!!!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Because Japan is a safe and clean country, I wish to see Japan hosting the Olympic games.

Given that there was no pandemic, it would have not only boost the country's tourism but also helped its economy grow. Businesses and local tourism would host an unusual number of tourists and it would truly support a lot of industries in the country.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

By now everyone in the world knows Japan and Tokyo but sadly also, in 1964, Japan was a country on the rise, an exploding market, now it is an economy in decline. Even an iconic designed stadium was replaced by a bland Japanese design, with the excuse of cost saving but a, in the end, it cost more than if we had stuck to the original. All in the name of nationalism.

Actually, Japan still owes money for the designs of the original stadium.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If it was done in a rational manner, ie holding them in autumn when the weather is suitable, I would support them. But holding them in the sweltering heat of July and August is just insane. I don’t care what excuse you give me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

stickman1760

But holding them in the sweltering heat of July and August is just insane...

Indoor games will not be affected much. Even outdoor, many games can be held in evening or early morning. About the only game that can be problem is marathon. But it was moved to Hokkaido.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Of course. It's great to host the event and despite valid objections, it's the Olympics! One of the great sporting events there is.

Long time ago it was great, but now the Olympics have become another sad and pathetic political BS staged event and thank God people are noticing this, so hopefully the event dies out as it should. Japan should have never gotten the Olympics or Tokyo to be more specific. Having the games hosted in the most expensive city in the world with very little English guides and information to help people where it cost an arm and a leg to eat to find accommodations? Doesn't make sense whatsoever. There are other prefectures where they could have held the games, anywhere in Kyushu would have been great, take your pick of city. Somewhere smaller, less dense, easy to navigate, a whole lot cheaper on the pocketbook.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Bread and circuses.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Supported it before. Support it now.

You don't think yo have benefited from infrastructure upgrades because of the winning bid..just as an example.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I voted no. That does not mean that I am against Tokyo hosting the games. It means that I was not particularly bothered where it might be held. Admittedly it is fun to watch (some of) the events on TV, but the venue is not important.

So, I am not in favor of Tokyo hosting them, no. But I am not against the idea, either.

I WAS totally against the idea of hosting them in the cruelly hot Japanese summer, though.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I was always against hosting them.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As an American I shouldn't care, but as the uncle of some Japanese kids in Japan, I don't think it was a good call.

The whole thing was always about "let's spend $15B so the world pays attention to Japan for 2 weeks, it'll be great!"

Japan is a demographic and public funding time bomb. $15B would have been better spent trying to get their dinosaur corporate culture to move to a work-from-home model, allowing people to move back to the prefectures and raise families with space.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Before?

Of course. It's great to host the event and despite valid objections, it's the Olympics! One of the great sporting events there is.

Now, I feel it should have been cancelled or postponed for another year.

As an American I shouldn't care

Lol. The Olympic spirit is truly with us.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

it was just a syphon of public money to corporations. The lofty goals of the Olympics ended decades ago. Now they are too big and a blight on most cities. They cannot follow basic accounting principles which is why there are often refused in other nations with open international standards

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I expect a surge in travelling after covid-19. Japan has a great chance to give some impact, even without foreign spectators, on those who are eager to go abroad. I support Tokyo Olympic 2021.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Before Corona, I really loved to see the see the Olympics at Tokyo.

I always enjoy the "atmosphere" around and before big sports events.

People always complain about "Our" Tax Money.

In my opinion this is not a waste of Tax Money, because many businesses like private restaurants, souvenir shops, sight seeing spots can earn a lot of money from visitors of the sport events.

Many private people can earn good money and their private business will improve from big sports events.

So this is not waste of Tax Money.

There are much more other "events" were our Tax Money is really wasted.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites