Japan says no truth to Times report on canceling Tokyo Olympics

Sure Have the Games Online, or Remote, we will all attend.

Does anyone remember Fukushima? This Olympics was somehow going to help Fukushima (how, I have no idea). Just saying.

You know how an injury stops hurting when you stop thinking about it? Well that's how the Olympics are helping Fukushima.

Does anyone remember Fukushima? This Olympics was somehow going to help Fukushima (how, I have no idea). Just saying.

pepelepe

It's a matter of deciding what the government really wants to do.

If they want just the Olympics, they can do it virtually like the Biden inauguration

That is what they will do, and it will be a similary bleak and eerie event. Except that in this case, there is really no alternative.

I wonder if the Japanese government will be able to stop the spread of these deadly Covid before or by July 2021 just to open the Olympic games! Will there be enough hospitals and their beds available in Japan for those athletes who have or will be infected by these deadly virus? This country is really taking the BIG RISKS! The Olympic Games ( I believe) were canceled when the WWII started, were they not?

I know how to handle it. It would take me only a phone call and a letter after that. lol

If the IOC makes the sensible decision to cancel the Olympics then that would save face for Japan... but then, I'd imagine that there's a cost involved in doing so - so I guess at the moment, there's a lot of horse trading going on behind closed doors, over who picks up the tab.... hence the denials.

If it avoids paying IOC fines, I would happily have Japan keep the border closed and have an Olympics with Japan-based competitors only. If that sullies the Olympic "brand" and US advertising can't be sold, then so be it.

Read my post!! THE OLYMPICS WILL BE CANCELLED! Japans government behind close doors want to cancel the Olympics but they don't want to pay the hefty fines that would go along with doing so. Also facing shame and looking at all the wasted tax dollars lost. THE IOC doesn't want to lose nor does Japan, if the covid number worsen that is the only way Japan can tell the world they are not prepared and by medical default they don't have to pay, but get the games postponed again

Japan will never cancel and will never publicly say they want to cancel.

This is not Japan's fault or doing.

Last year it was made clear in several news investigations that Japan was clearly told by the greedy IOC that if Japan cancelled it would have to pay the penalties totalling millios of dollars to the IOC.

So basically Japan has 3 choices.

1-) Unilaterally Cancel and pay huge penalties to the IOC.

2-) play along in the charade and hope that the pressure finally pushed the IOC to cancel thereby avoiding any more payments and any penalties to be paid to the IOC by Japan

3-) Hold a rump Olympic with most countries probably not showing up and do a half-hearted job so as to not give the greedy IOC one more yen.

You can all complain about Japan but the real problem is the IOC their refusal to void the cancellation penalties, or for them to cancel has put Japan in the situation it is in now.

This is nothing new all these sports governing bodies are the same, the Australian open is a Covid fiasco but players had no choice to got or face penalties.

FIBA ( basketball) is trying to fine Canada $200,000 for not going to the November even due to covid-19 and medical advice and is now saying if Canada does show for the February event they will face disqualification from the Paris Olympics.

IOC, FIFA, FIBA, tennis ruling body, etc.. should all be disbanded they are all corrupt money grabbing machines.

Japan says no truth to Times report on canceling Tokyo Olympics

People say no truth to anything Japan Government says on anything

Japan thinks Times is a tabloid ?

Japanese politicians forced to think like modern citizen of the world but cannot and will not accept to lose face.

The tide has not yet clearly turned against the pandemic and for us. Presuming so vehemently that the Olympics will be held come June has all the optimism of a suicide pilot. How many athletes are willing to shout "Banzai!" as they run from and two the shower room?

Foreign media spreading lies and misinformation about Japan.

This is not new. Happens often on many issues related to Japan.

The Times must have got it's information from a reliable source, otherwise a world renowned newspaper with a high reputation would not print it.

I think that many foriegn newspapers do not spread lies or misinformation about Japan, but write things which many Japanese people (and government) just don't want to hear.

Never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. This Was yet another chance to bail on a doomed games but Japan is just determined to fail. K

It wasn't their decision the last time either, nor the IOC, but the athletes

The more they deny it the more I beleive it will be canceled.

Foreign media spreading lies and misinformation about Japan.

This is not new. Happens often on many issues related to Japan.

Yes, the Times, it's bold to suggest the government knows what they are currently thinking and takes decisions. The situation is they are letting it rot. When it's done like a good kusaya, they'll say that was shoganai.

The chances of success of a Winter Olympics in China event is not a matter of vaccinations within China.

Games occurring, it's technically possible, but that will be hard to forget the Covid cover up, Hong Kong, the Uighurs... so they could get even more boycotts than Moscow 1980.

Shifting Tokyo to 2032 would probably mean Sapporo 2030 would be off, so I'm all for it!

A delayed Summer Olympics with everything built will be much cheaper than a Winter Olympics from scratch.

Denials all round, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike etc yet a senior government official is briefing the media.....

Zodiac: "I give it to mid March until they really admit it."

Nah... it's usually a week to 10 days, but it's definitely safe to start taking bets. Last year it was 9 days between Koike's angry insistence they will be held no matter what, and no truth to rumours of postponement/cancellation, and the actual postponement, after which she suddenly started wearing a mask and declared the situation serious. A lot more pressure this time, and I don't think they can keep it up until March. Mori has said it won't be cancelled, the IOC, the government, and spokespeople, and yet domestic and international pressure has the denial busting at the seams.

I'm going to bet next week they hold a press conference to say they are going to hold a press conference February 1st. Then on the first they'll announce cancellation, saying they will try to negotiate for 2032.

As for those suggesting 2024, Japan has absolutely zero right to that date. It has already been fought over and won by France. Of course, I suppose France could forfeit the rights and all the pomp and circumstance they've been celebrating so far, and it might be smart since, who knows, we might not even be out of the woods by then, but look how hard Tokyo and Japan have been fighting -- even to the death of many people that didn't need to die -- to keep their stupidly chosen mid-summer date, not even bothering to entertain a change except in increasing budgets.

Last year at exactly the same time, one of my students, who was a volunteer translator/guide for the Games, told me that her supervisors were seriously talking about canceling or postponing the Games but it was all on the down low. The news on TV that same day she told me, on the other hand, was absolutely denying that that was on the table. This govt. rarely tells the truth.

If/when the Olympics happen...The J-Gov't is going to say, "I don't know why we have more deaths from Covid-19 than America. We need to seek our "Panel, for the Panel of Panel of experts". We truely regret our decisions". Followed by a low bow while face down on the floor....

Good point!

Although not really fair to me, one side are pols, the other is a "journalist"

Do the hustleToday 03:34 pm JST

Bwahaha! I got all thumbs down for my previous comment stating this was tabloid BS. Guess what? It was tabloid BS! Time for some humble pie nay sayers! lol

I'll take a report by Richard Lloyd Parry over these weak tea denials from Koike, Sakai and the rest, any day of the week. Last year they were claiming the games would go ahead until a few days before they were cancelled. We'll see.

Many people argue with corruption in the IOC not to pursue any olympics but use the pandemic as the excuse. This is sad. I think that the Tokyo olympics this summer will be safe. Last year the postponement happened just three months before they were about to start. Many people aound the world went for holidays during that summer. Now after that mistake we have the winter situation with easy spreading of viruses and again calls to postpone - but there will only be cancelation if so, no more potponement. Nevertheless, it is still 6 month to the start and on the other hand, we also have a vaccination now that is highly effective and Japan ordered enough for all of its population. All athlethes will have to be tested or vaccinated upon attending, should be no problem, that is a comparably very small number. The pandemic will not continue after this summer I'm sure, there'll be enough vaccine for everybody who's open to be inoculated. These world games could be the sign to the world, that the pandemic has been defeated. If during the next 3 months the virus will get out of control again, then there will still be enough time to cancel the games - until then it is just attempted opinion forming of do-gooders.

Bwahaha! I got all thumbs down for my previous comment stating this was tabloid BS. Guess what? It was tabloid BS! Time for some humble pie nay sayers! lol

Lol had to see that one when i read this. The thumbs down were probably not because you called it tabloid BS but because they realized you were correct and on point on what you called them =)

Ah,I missed the update,so the farce will continue for the saving face,the pride and mainly for the pennies.

How I hope that this news will be true,no one around the world is right now thinking at some remote Olympics in a time when governments are struggling even to survive.

Swallow your pride and cancel these useless Olympics.

OK, so now there's a flat out denial from the Japanese govt. This ought to be interesting.

I wonder how long will it take them before they start to reconsider that decision if the pandemic continues.

I thought the Tokyo Olympics were a bad idea back in 2013. Just a huge waste of public funds for a two week event. Thank you, Christel Takigawa. Omotenashi!

Bwahaha! I got all thumbs down for my previous comment stating this was tabloid BS. Guess what? It was tabloid BS! Time for some humble pie nay sayers! lol

Wobot Today  09:44 am JST

I wonder what the gov will do with all the facilities they built

turn them into what are now being called "health hotels" ??

In the dystopian future world of Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Times has been transformed into an organ of the totalitarian ruling party.

Orwell never imagined ruling parties transformed into organs of The Times' owner.

I suspect it will turn out to be true.

A majority of people in Japan are against the Olympics and politicians normally listen to what the majority says.

Right now, I think that the whole subject of the Olympic Games is just much for this nation of 12 year olds.

Come on, admit it already! The games can't go ahead, it's sad but there is nothing to celebrate this year, all efforts and resources should be used to overcome the situation especially in Europe and the Americas. No government in their right mind would dare to waste money sending some athletes to a sports event when they have more important issues to take care of at home.

Have some dignity and save some face, Japan.

Should've let Turkey have the joy of dealing with the Covid olympics and paying for it.

That's some nasty sentiment right there. Kind of goes against your recent comment:

Comforting words can reinvigorate our spirits: Luke 24:36-49.

Anyway, it's time to call it a day. Nobody wanted to relive the thrill of attending an Olympic Games, more than me, but let's be realistic. In this current climate, it will only reverse any of the good work in keeping those numbers down.

I love Japan, but it's time to focus on the people, rather than this event.

It's a matter of deciding what the government really wants to do.

If they want just the Olympics, they can do it virtually like the Biden inauguration or an Apple event.

If they want the visitors (and the influx of money, etc) it's kinda tough without the mass vaccination well under way.

Which one is gonna be?

Wasn't Mori de responsable for the games?!

Shouldn't he make a public appearance to do some explanations?

The Japanese Government must not voluntarily cancel the Tokyo Olympics Games, exposure to cancellation contractual liabilities will be incalculable.

Don't walk away, it is time to hold the IOC politically and economically accountable.

I hear that hat is going to taste so delicious!

Japan says no truth to Times report

After seeing the fake corporate media in action for years now, why would anyone expect "truth" in a Times report, I wonder.

They will absolutely hold the Olympics in Tokyo, but it will be a spooky, mostly virtual event without live audiences, similar to that recent inauguration ceremony in the US.

@Danny NguyenToday 12:20 pm JST

That being said, the IOC needs to start considering a cancellation of Beijing 2022 as well. With the virus nowhere near under control and not expected to be as such by the next 13 months, better end that one as well.

Well, Beijing's definitely not canceling. If need be, they'll do one of their maximum-strength lockdowns on Beijing a few weeks or months beforehand to suppress the virus infection, and the patriotic Chinese people will comply.

If they’re denying it that means two weeks max before it’s official. I give it until mid-next week.

I think that the official decision will be made and finalized in Feb when an IOC meet is scheduled.

I interact closely with people who are working for the games and can confirm that the Times article is not true. The preparations are going full speed ahead. I'd also hope they could be postponed e.g. to the autumn, but I sure as hell don't wish for them to be cancelled completely.

At this moment I hold the same view. I've been paying special attention to any moves or comments made by a number of key figures and real stakeholders (not Chairman Bach, nor Japanese side). They have to date remained silent. This FT story (sourced from a single person under anonimity) seems to be used as a decoy or reconnaissance baloon.

@smithinjapan

I give it to mid March until they really admit it.

I'd feel sorry for many qualified althletes now put in trouble or "limbo". The cancelation would have impact as their perfomance peak is usually short-lived. Quite many have already annouced retirement.

That being said, the IOC needs to start considering a cancellation of Beijing 2022 as well. With the virus nowhere near under control and not expected to be as such by the next 13 months, better end that one as well.

Alongside the Tokyo I don't want to politicize further this issue. But Beijing should be aware of arising global grudges, and behave more sensibly (at least for awhile). Can't get away with it. Besides, who'd want to overly support the 2022 Games under the host who are conducting "genocide" or various forms of repression?

I interact closely with people who are working for the games and can confirm that the Times article is not true. The preparations are going full speed ahead. I'd also hope they could be postponed e.g. to the autumn, but I sure as hell don't wish for them to be cancelled completely.

Japan cannot hold the Olympics in 2024, why do people keep pushing this as a solution. Paris is holding the Olympics that year, they won’t give it up unless Covid is still a problem and the IOC won’t force them to hand it to Tokyo. Tokyo Olympics are not happening for a long time.

If they’re denying it that means two weeks max before it’s official. I give it until mid-next week. Now they can blame it in the American media, because that’s all Japan is waiting for... an excuse. They cancel without one (aside from people dying from Corona, of course), and they are in hot water and have to pay refunds. They cancel because it’s “not our fault” and suddenly they save face. Either way, it’s done.

I do like the way that the headline to this article has evolved so predictably. First it was about the Times reporting that the government is privately conceding the Olympics are toast. Now it has been revised to reflect the government strenuously denying that it is privately conceding the Olympics are toast.

only good point of the disaster is if you were given or bought an apartment in the prestigious Olympic Village, you probably just made $2million profit.

So what happened to all the people who had contracts to buy them after the Games? I assume they were forced to wait another year, but no compensation? Or perhaps there was a clause that allowed the organizers to keep the units another year if the Games were delayed..?

only good point of the disaster is if you were given or bought an apartment in the prestigious Olympic Village, you probably just made $2million profit.

How?

just postpone it another year: Tokyo 2022.

then push all subsequent olympics back by another 2 years---even fewer people will be interested in Paris 2024, a mere 2 years after Tokyo. make it Paris 2026

Chico3Today 10:02 am JST

Well, look at it this way. Taking a page from the LA Olympics, keep the venues active for other sports and events to generate revenue, while at the same time, plan for future Olympics in Tokyo. This way, the city doesn't have to spend billions of yen making new venues. While at the same time, using this experience as a "textbook lesson" on what not to do when planning international events.

My assessment as well. Plenty of experience and revenues can be gained from eventually hosting world championships and other international meets in future years before going at it again for the Olympics. At best, Tokyo will have the Olympic Games again and will only have to tweak the venues. You don't need to smell fresh paint when we start the Olympics.

That being said, the IOC needs to start considering a cancellation of Beijing 2022 as well. With the virus nowhere near under control and not expected to be as such by the next 13 months, better end that one as well.

I don't know why people are expecting 2032 as the expected year for Tokyo to have another chance. As far as everyone is concerned, 2028 has not been awarded yet and the candidacies for 2028 are only mere projects as of now.

It strikes me as likely that a source would tell the foreign media instead of the Japanese one where repercussions are more likely.

Its worth remembering that regardless of whether or not they go ahead in some form or not the Olympics are going to be a massive loss for Japan.

If they get cancelled, then most of that 25 billion dollars spent on them is basically flushed down the toilet. The country has nothing but a big new stadium that it doesn't need and some apartment complexes to show for it. Its a disaster.

If on the other hand they go ahead then......most of that 25 billion dollars spent on them is basically flushed down the toilet. There will not be any associated economic benefits since there is no way in hell they are going to be throwing the borders open to a massive influx of foreign tourists to see the games, which was what the government was anticipating as the main benefit. Basically we'll all be able to watch some sports we probably don't care much about on TV for a couple of weeks - which we could have done regardless of what country they were taking place in - and then Japan is left with nothing but a big new stadium it doesn't need and some apartment complexes. Also a disaster.

Let's turn out all the lights, too.

Admit that society as we knew it has lost.

Load all remaining wealth into an elevator.

Hit the tip floor button before retreating back into our dark, dingy basement.

Budget $9billion. Reported cost $29billion. Japanese taxpayers 75% of cost.

Invoices about damages should be sent to Beijing and the WHO. Don't forget who are chiefly responsible for the pandemic crushing the Games.

No problem, the IOC is covered by insurances anyway and many of the empty sports facilities and hotels can be used for concentrated accommodation of corona patients, testing, vaccination and the like, so that is also centralized and not supporting further virus spreading in the whole metropolitan area if done distributed as it is now. That would also take pressure and financial burden from all other hospitals and also the urgent operations for many not-corona patients, for example with heart insufficiency or cancer, don’t need to be postponed anymore. Use your little brains and do something really good out of the bad, in moments like this.

@OssanAmerica

if you followed closely you would know that 2024 is not a possibility for Tokyo. That’s Paris and they aren’t going to ask Paris to change. The earliest Tokyo could get it would be 2032 after LA.

There won’t be an Olympics this year...nuff said.

The Australian Olympic boss is currently holding a press conference

Media reports out of the UK are incorrect

Tokyo Olympics ARE going ahead with significant changes

No ceremonies. Athletes arriving within five days of competition and leaving within 48 hours of competing

Athletes will go to the village, go to training, go to their events and then return to the village

No decision yet made on spectators

More interested in saving face than money.

Japan has privately concluded Tokyo Olympics should be canceled - The Times :

'Japan's government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.'

If that is the case, one welcomes, as one has been arguing on the Games' postponement on similar basis.

JOC. Stupid is as stupid does. Coulda postponed a little farther back but...

I have to fully agree. it was fairly obvious even at the time delaying it for only 1 year would not be long enough, for the situation to improve for the games to be held. Blind Freddy could see the then but greed was more important. Two year postponement just maybe ( but different hands might have got their fingers on the pie by then). 1 year was already doomed from the outset.

man I hope that's true. The gov would have done SOMETHING right

If that is the case, one welcomes, as one has been arguing on the Games' postponement on similar basis.

Tokyo, Japan and IOC need to work on a 2024 Olympics..

Well the 2024 Olympics will happen, but not in Tokyo..now the date has shifted to 2032..

I wonder what the gov will do with all the facilities they built..

That Olympic village housing will now be sold to public..probably at a premium..

Part of the problem has been the messaging from the government, which has just made it impossible for people (including me) to trust them on both the Olympics and on their Covid response.

Right now (and also early last year) the messaging from the government has consistently been "The Olympics are absolutely happening no matter what, end of discussion, no room for debate at all", which makes them look completely out of touch with reality and also makes it very difficult for the public to trust them.

If their message had instead been "This is a tough situation and we will absolutely cancel the Olympics if it is a threat to public health, but we would like that to be a last resort and will try to hold them if it can be done safely" then I think people would be way less opposed to the Olympics and way more willing to trust the government on this since it would demonstrate that they understood the reality and were committing to putting public health first.

Since they chose the former though they've pretty much lost all credibility.

TOKYO - Japan's government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Times of London reported, citing an unnamed senior member of the ruling coalition

This is definitely tabloid news. Only a fool would put any faith in this report. I only read the first paragraph. That was enough for me.

Tokyo, Japan and IOC need to work on a 2024 Olympics, Just shift the schedule down. The probability of it being a success is pretty darn good.

@Ossan - On face value hosting the Tokyo Games in 2024 and the Paris Games in 2028 might be an obvious solution, but it's wishful thinking as the considerable cost and losses for Paris not holding the Games as scheduled in 2024 would make it next to impossible.

TV deals have already been signed, infrastructure projects well underway, billions already spent gearing up to the 2024 Games.

The IOC won't be able to afford the compensation to Paris, and as things stand right now the Tokyo Games will unfortunately never happen.

They can use all the money they will save to bribe the IOC again. Win win

It was obvious 6 months ago but it is hard to pull ones snout out of the trough when the flow of feed is continuous...

The Akira movie prediction actually came true.

Sshh! Don't tell the Japanese (government)!

Japan must hold a general election for the House of Representatives no later than October of this year. It will be interesting to see how, if it happens, the cancellation of the Olympics affects the fortunes of the LDP.

I just hope the Japanese government learns a lesson from this debacle. May this be the last time massive overspending for an Olympics occurs in Japan. What an appalling waste of money.

"We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo," Bach told Kyodo.

No words..

good news

Budget $9billion. Reported cost $29billion. Japanese taxpayers 75% of cost.

only good point of the disaster is if you were given or bought an apartment in the prestigious Olympic Village, you probably just made $2million profit.

Got it, when countries don't come Japan will have the most gold metals. ha

The greed of the Lords of the Rings has been adequately demonstrated over the last few weeks, desperate to keep the gold coming in to their coffers,

Let the corrupt IOC whine about not getting their coffers filled this year.

You can add to that certain corrupt Japanese politicians, and J-Inc - Dentsu for starters.

@Simian Lane

Unsure as to why anyone would gloat at its cancellation though, it’s desperately sad for Japan having planned it for so long

I don't believe anyone is gloating. We all understand the amount of planning and costs that go into the Olympics. But the IOC and Japanese government's refusal to cancel has only multiplied the costs. Countries had already pulled out and the people already no longer wanted it. Instead of canceling and focusing on the future, they kept changing, spending money, and pushing everything back and only to cancel in the end. Everyone knew the Olympics wouldn't happen, but Japan hoping to recoup costs and the IOC refusal to give back money because they are corrupt, has now made the situation worst.

Perhaps now we will see serious Covid testing in Japan?

As any other country that increases testing, the number of positives would go through the roof as well. So imagine:

Cancelling the Olympics AND concluding the real number of cases was always hidden through low testing to prioritise an event that ended up cancelled?

This will keep costing many lives, but no doubts the gov will rather keep its strategy of almost no testing to save the remaining face left.

It sounds more like England is trying to create an image that Japan has given up. If they can convince enough countries that it's over, then it WILL be regardless of what Japan wants. Clever!

JOC. Stupid is as stupid does. Coulda postponed a little farther back but...

Good, if true. They should never have bid for it in the first place. Should've let Turkey have the joy of dealing with the Covid olympics and paying for it.

But who am I kidding, we all know that Japan Inc. is addicted to massive boondoggle projects like this.

Anyone with a pea for a brain knows it should be canceled. haha

The cancellation of the Olympics would be a financial disaster for Japan, which has spent at least $25 billion on preparations — three quarters of which was public money.

Would you rather keep the disaster going and spend an extra ton of yen because of one's pride and ego?

They keep fighting against it, but the cancelation was inevitable. Many countries are already pulling their athletes out and a lot more countries see 2021 to be the year they focus on recovery. It was always a lost cause especially since the people also didn't want it. The quicker they cancel and cut costs, the easier it is to mitigate the loss.

I wonder what the gov will do with all the facilities they built

Whatever they would do with them after the Olympics were over.

Well, look at it this way. Taking a page from the LA Olympics, keep the venues active for other sports and events to generate revenue, while at the same time, plan for future Olympics in Tokyo. This way, the city doesn't have to spend billions of yen making new venues. While at the same time, using this experience as a "textbook lesson" on what not to do when planning international events.

The IOC statement yesterday now makes perfect sense.

It seems Japan is going to blink first and be left to foot most of the bill. Maybe negotiating for 2032 is their way out?

So much money has been wasted on this 'game'.

WobotToday 09:44 am JST

I wonder what the gov will do with all the facilities they built

Whatever they would do with them after the Olympics were over.

Only yesterday, Bach announced there is no Plan B. He and the rest of his drove need to get their bellies filled.

I think I'm right in saying the IOC call the shots on this decision?

I for one can't wait to see a ghost Olympics, where the very few fans who are allowed to attend stand in silence, not cheering or yelling encouragement, like guests at a funeral.

Well worth sinking two generations into abject penury for.

Just delay until 2024. Reset and continue, if you reaaly need to build your life around three weeks of running and jumping.

This pantomime that a ghostly facade of the five-ring circus can continue as thousands of people continue to die every day is macabre.

You could see it comming with all the denials that it wouldnt be canceled.

The cancellation of the Olympics would be a financial disaster for Japan, which has spent at least $25 billion on preparations — three quarters of which was public money.

That's OK. We can afford it!

Tokyo, Japan and IOC need to work on a 2024 Olympics, Just shift the schedule down. The probability of it being a success is pretty darn good.

The chances of success of a Winter Olympics in China event is not a matter of vaccinations within China. It's a matter of vaccinations all over the world and to what extent international travel has returned, both in terms of travelers and airlines. If China wants to proclaim complete victory over the pandemic when the world has not, they can hold a China National Winter Sports Event, without the IOC or other nations.

Perhaps now we will see serious Covid testing in Japan?

I wouldnt hold my breath waiting for this to change here!

In my opinion, if Japan had been open about testing and contact tracing from the beginning, I would like to think that we wouldnt be seeing the increase that we are going through now and just maybe this discussion about the Olympics being held or not wouldn't be occurring.

It's always "after" something happens here that changes occur! If the Olympics get cancelled you can bet on Suga losing his job!

Typical of the government here, tossing out a trial balloon to test the waters, and see the response.

If this is true then its the right decision. Japan may be ready but lots of other countries and athletes will not be. Though it does seem strange that the Prime Minister Suga-san was adamant that they would go ahead. A public decision is needed sooner rather than later, to avoid more wasted tax money!!!

@andy

Tokyo Olympics should definitely canceled due to the pandemic and not to be held in tokyo or in other country until corona virus is to clear off.

I assure you that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be held on schedule by February 2022 since China would have completed the vaccination of its population well before then.

But even yesterday the PM was admanatly guaranteeing the games would go ahead on NHK news without vaccinations ( can't be done in Japan in time as the rollout will be hardly advanced by then) under stringent safe measures ( spectators not shouting or cheering, participants locked in their villages, cafeterias closed at 8 PM and other brilliant ideas).

But of course he was promising Go To Travel was all good and would not be cancelled right till the end as well.

No one can deny Japan's coronavirus situation. It's sad, but, better cancel than worsening.

Tokyo Olympics should definitely canceled due to the pandemic and not to be held in tokyo or in other country until corona virus is to clear off.

Good.

Let the corrupt IOC whine about not getting their coffers filled this year.

Oh well.

Sad, but inevitable. I feel for the volunteers who threw themselves into their role with passion. And of course the taxpayer...

Perhaps now we will see serious Covid testing in Japan?

Good news. Sensible, if true.