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© KYODOJapan scrambles to deny reports that Olympics cancelation possible
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didou
Yes. Go To Olympics.
To save the face, Japan hopes foreign countries will decide not to come, as it will be a forced decision and others could be blamed
MarkX
I wonder who will be the first big country to state they will not attend the Olympics, and the reason being they don't want to give Olympic athletes special consideration by vaccinating them before other people in their country. I can see either Canada, Australia or Great Britain doing something like that.
JeffLee
Not really. The Japan govt is insisting that it just recently start conducting its own clinical testing of vaccines in Japan -- based on the assumption that Japanese people are biologically different from those 100,000 or so test subjects overseas -- is drastically limiting your possibilities as July looms.
Tokyo-Engr
I am of the belief the Olympics should have been cancelled last year and the funds redirected for efforts to fight the pandemic and to provide relief for people who are truly suffering financially now.
I do know one lady (a friend of my wife actually) who has worked on the Oympics from its inception and her role is in coordination and logistics. She has been enthusiastic about this from the beginning and it is a dream for her (literally her dream job). She is younger than we are, speaks 3 languages, and has always held the view that the Olympics should and must go on and I totally understand her - she genuinely wants to do something good for Japan and the world. She literally has put her life into this the past several years. However, last week she finally told my wife she is starting to question whether or not it is possible or even right to carry on. I can understand why she has hung in so long and because of people like her I understand why some want this to happen.
However; it is not her responsibility to lead the country....in this case the responsibility falls on Suga and for Tokyo, Koike.
It would take leadership and courage to make the decision to cancel. No one wants to be the one person to make the final decision on this; especially in Japan - I get that. However leadership and courage is what is really needed now. Unfortunately I do not see this from Suga or Koike or from anyone in the current LDP power structure.
Since it is now becoming obvious the Japanese Government cannot or will not make this decision the best option is the IOC makes this decision soon.
Cricky
Scramble as much as you want, that egg is broken.
iraira
This is the process by which the Olympics get canceled and everyone saves face, but the public doesn't get their money back.
First the politicians will show a unified "The Olympics will go on. There are no discussions regarding cancelling the Olympics."
Then, one or two politicians or J-IOC members will make a generally rebuffed "gaffe" that other options should be examined.
Followed, by the higher ups stating that the possibility of cancellation is being discussed, regrettably.
Lastly, Koike states "due to the circumstances, regrettably..."
Pukey2
What, so cancellation is impossible? Shall I give you this hat to eat later, just in case?
Leo
That's a sign that they will be cancelled.
Dee
I guess the show must go on. You dig yourself into a money pit, you might as well lie in it.
OssanAmerica
Tokyo and the IOC could probably have the most successful Olympics in history if they pushed to back to 2024. But instead they remain shortsighted and risk holding the most unsuccessful Olympics in history. Unless they intend to do it all remotely.
thepersoniamnow
Its that $25 BILLION invested, in the Worlds highest indebted nation.
Coulda giveb everyone in the country $200 instead Abe.
Mr Kipling
The ¥25 BILLION has been spent...its gone...Holding or not holding the olympics. Very little is recouped by the even itself. Its not really about the money, more about being seen to waste money. The foreign visitors to the olympics is a widely believed myth.
The cracks have started to appear, I expect an announcement probably in early March..60/40 towards holding a “Japan” only games.
ZENJI
The HARD FACT IS: This event will kill many many people.
smithinjapan
It's done. If they are denying it's over, it's over. They are just waiting for someone else to make it not their choice so they can say, "Shouganai! Not our decision!"
robert maes
The decision IS made. It is all about timing for the official announcement and that must be end of February, certainly before Mid March. Because of very practical reasons such as travel for the equestrian horses, the torch relay... And by then a deal will be struck with the US broadcasters and the insurance companies.
kohakuebisu
This is playing out like last year. The official stance is that the Games are 100% on until they are 100% off.
u_s__reamer
No gold medals, but the "Golden Ostrich Award" goes to...Japan!
robert maes
Look, i worked on the last 10 Olympics in one form or another. We start working 6 to 8 years out on a summer Olympics. So, once and for all, 2024 is Paris and can not come to Tokyo UNLESS they get clever quickly in France and refuse them, however that brings the same problem as for Tokyo. Enormous claims from the IOC.
2028 is very very unlikely as every 20 years at least the US tv broadcasters want their advertising bonanza around a home Games in their timezone.
2032 of course is possible but it means renewing 80 % of the organizing budget for 2020 as many facilities will not be useable anymore( not all are new now), staff will be all different, different politicians, sponsors....
It is best to cancel and move on without Games. That is sadly, right now, the sensible thing to do.
serendipitous1
As people are learning with the Australian Open tennis (and that's just a few thousand people traveling to Australia), athletes need to arrive early, acclimatize, train etc. It's unfair if some can train and some can't due to quarantine etc. We're talking tens of thousands of people (athletes, officials, media etc.) traveling for the Olympics. There's no way even one third of people in Japan will have been vaccinated by July. They were right to postpone it last year, see how it looks for 2021 but now they have to realize the Games can't go ahead.
Jim
If Japan approves the vaccine quickly and mass vaccination starts by March then definitely the virus can be brought under control. But with Japanese Pharmaceuticals companies trying to make a few bucks out of all this a quick approval for vaccine seems highly unlikely! It’s all about money making for Japan Government and Japan Inc.
Do the hustle
Clutch that straw Tokyo!
wanderlust
@Goodlucktoyou
If it’s on...news crews, translators, athletes, coaches, support teams, families, sponsors etc will be forced to come. Also 200,000 Japanese volunteers will be forced to stand in 38degrees sun during a major pandemic, many elderly.
And they will ALL need the vaccine!
El Rata
Come on Japan! Have some dignity, cancel the faceless games already! Olympics are a celebration, there is nothing to celebrate at the moment.
wtfjapan
It is a good idea to postpone Tokyo Olympics to 2024.
actually no ,, theyve stated if its canceled it will be calcelle d for good, 2024 isnt an option as Paris will then also be losing billions
smithinjapan
Zoroto: it’s at least twenty magnitudes less competent, not two. You forgot the zero.
Luddite
Why bother. No one will come.
Tokyo-Engr
@Robert
..............
The 6 to 8 years sounds about right. My wife's friend started in April 2014. Cancelling the Olympics is the right thing now but I do truly and sincerely feel sorry for people like her who worked so hard on this and cannot see their efforts come to fruition. As you said it is sad but it is the right thing to do.....
vanityofvanities
It is a good idea to postpone Tokyo Olympics to 2024.
Jim
Japan can host the Olympics safely after vaccination!
Goodlucktoyou
If it’s on...news crews, translators, athletes, coaches, support teams, families, sponsors etc will be forced to come.
also 200,000 Japanese volunteers will be forced to stand in 38degrees sun during a major pandemic, many elderly.
mariasjapan
Wake up and smell the coffee. It's not going to happen!
Thomas Tank
When they said to believe that nothing is impossible, I don't think this is what they had in mind.
Bob Fosse
What a mess. Cancel it already, it’s not going to happen.
runner3
Kansai Masters Games 2022 will be huge! Because there will be no Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
didou
@iraira
Likely the scenario.
Adding some safety concerns raised from a few influent foreign voices
Sven Asai
Of course it’s nonsense, look at the global infection numbers and vaccination availability, a mess.... But you could perfectly use the facilities as a central corona treatment center, accommodate infected people with lesser symptomatic manifestations , buy some ICU beds and ECMOs for the sports venues turned into corona treatment only hospitals. It’s useful, has logistical and anti-spreading advantages because locally concentrated , not distributed over all Tokyo area like now, and the best thing is, all other hospitals can return to normal (business) operations, make necessary medications and treatments for postponed patients with cancers and the like, or all other sick people who just waited or denied to go to hospitals because of infection fears. Turn the bad thing of no Olympics or stubborn infectious Olympics simply into something good and useful without great additional efforts.
Bob Fosse
This has been allowed to go on for too long because of multiple oji-san’s legacy wish, sponsor’s greed, corruption and plain idiocy.
How about listening to the athletes and spectators? I’d imagine they have quite a significant role to play.
kaimycahl
We are a few day away from february, the Olympics is suppose to start in June or July, more than half the people in Japan has not received the vaccination. The athletes usually arrive months ahead of the games. This is totally unorganized the IOC should postpone the games, but its all economic, and political. I think the IOC wants Japan to cancel the games and eat the cost, by doing so the IOC will not be on tap for providing the funding for pushing the games to after the virus gets under control.
wanderlust
*@ kaimycahl** more than half the people in Japan has not received the vaccination..*
No-one has received the vaccination, not even half the people!
Goodlucktoyou
In other news...scientists, virologists, researchers, doctors, etc, have in unison, declared that this year will be the most serious with predictions of 2 more years to control. They say the most worst time for virus spread and variant mutations not tested on current short term tested vaccinations IS...the same time as the Olympics.
Goodlucktoyou
Only 83%. Not so many.
Jonathan Prin
I believe only a medical study can be the correct response about holding games or not.
Pleade note that virus does not like heat. So it could be under control during summer.
No country has seen any surge during that time with Japanese weather. And then law can chznge to make measures applicable.
Then if Japan cannot vaccine enough, foreign people will for most be already vaccinated.
Be optimistic and realistic.
I am pro lockdowns because hidtory has showed the strongest measure eventually bring about smallest impact in the long term.
venze
Assess the pandemic situation carefully and adequately again by April, before committing the nation to go on with the Olympics. Weigh the pros and cons cautiously and appropriately before making the final decision. Lest regret later..