Paralympic closing marks end of Tokyo's 8-year Olympic saga

Shame it didn't mark the end for taxpayers, we will be paying for that disaster for the next 8 years.

Due to the outbreak of COVID 19, economic boom by Olympic did not happen and Suga had to resign. However, it was held without confusions and orderliness of Japan was proved.

Well it's all over, Congratulation Japan on pulling off one of the most unique Olympics in history.

TokyoJoe, we will be paying for the next 30 years. This all started with Shintaro Ishihara and his right wing buddies who were feeling outdone by Beijing when they hosted. They had to try and one up them, and this is the debacle we ended up with. Huge debt, perhaps people dying because of misplaced priorities, and nothing to really show for it.

Finally, finally it's over & done.

@TokyoJoe @MarkX

It will take longer than years to pay this off. The Montreal Olympic debt of C$1.6bn took 40 years, and the T-Olympic debt, when adjusted for inflation, is far greater.

I'm not sure about Shintaro Ishihara angle, but this was also about a huge transfer of public money to private corporations, as part of Japan's usual corporate welfare schemes. The LDP politicians are deeply wed to the cement and other built environment industries (and of course Dentsu, the banks, the auto industry, etc.) and together they always come up with new massive projects that ruin the natural environment and increase the tax burden on the young and future generations.

And all for a few weeks of sporting events. What a huge opportunity cost: money waste that could have been used to deal with the human made Fukashima nuclear disaster, the climate emergency, biodiversity collapse, the Covid pandemic, even creating smaller sporting infrastructure that we could use daily, such as playing fields.

I'm kind of sad to see the Paralympics and Olympics end. At first, I didn't want them to be held but once the Olympics started, they were like a tonic and morale booster, as well as a distraction from corona. Many people who are in lockdown in my home country said they enjoyed the TV coverage also.

I was lucky enough to meet a few volunteers. They were wonderful people, so dedicated and thrilled to be a part of the most challenging Olympics every. One of them was a woman in her 70s who had spent the past two years learning English.

I don't believe the Olympics or Paralympics were responsible for the spike in coronavius cases, though of course I can't prove it.

Anyway, I say thank you to the athletes and volunteers. Tokyo 2020 will not be remember as the worst Olympics and Paralympics but as the most challenging Olympics and Paralympics.

Paralympic closing marks end of Tokyo's 8-year Olympic saga

Good riddance! Now lets START to try to get the pandemic under control, shall we?

Not just taxes but lives were lost. Will future Olympics be forced down the host's throats even during a pandemic?

Shintaro Ishihara... Almost forgot about that POS.

smartacusToday  07:52 am JST

I'm kind of sad to see the Paralympics and Olympics end. At first, I didn't want them to be held but once the Olympics started, they were like a tonic and morale booster, as well as a distraction from corona. Many people who are in lockdown in my home country said they enjoyed the TV coverage also.

I'm sorry but from what I understand from other comments here you are not allowed to be positive in any way about the Olympics.

From the deluded commentators I read here, the Olympics/Paralympics are basically a "weapons of mass destruction".

Despite no fans at the Olympics/Paralympics, the narrative is that it is responsible for the rise in Covid. Not the 7 million that use the Tokyo metro daily, the crowds at other events or people ignoring the SOE and not working from home.

What a complete disaster they have been. Should have been cancelled, or at best delayed. They will be remembered for being the Games recklessly put on in the middle of a once-in-a-hundred-year pandemic, with no spectators and zero benefit to Japanese people.

The drama will continue indefinitely, with the bill taking many years to pay off.

Lots of praise from athletes and officials for the Tokyo organisers and volunteers, for pulling off a 'successful' pandemic Olympics and Paralympics. But, for obvious reasons, very ambivalent feelings in Tokyo and Japan. Now that it's all over, we can (hopefully) go back to focus on what really matters. What remains of the Games is a rather questionable legacy. We have yet to see how history will eventually judge the Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics.

@fighto

the complainers will complain - it’s in their nature.

The superspreader hasn’t come to fruition, so they’ve turned their attention to their tax money being wasted.

Next week, it’ll be something else

@fighto,

sorry my comment should’ve been directed at @tokyoite

Congratulation Japan for this unique Olympics.

The people of Japan should be proud of it.

A study by the University of Oxford found these to be the most expensive Games on record. Japan officially spent $15.4 billion to organize the Olympics and Paralympics, double the original estimate. Several government audits suggested the real costs are twice that. All but $6.7 billion is public money.

We'll never know the true costs, either in terms of money spent, lives lost and opportunities wasted, but I'd bet there's not much change from $35bn.

Billions of dollars in corporate welfare and the public health sidelined during a global pandemic for a month of nationalist vainglory. The Olympics is nothing more than "rolling colonialism" and should be abolished in its current form. Tokyo 2020 has seen the mask ripped off, revealing the naked greed, exploitation and total disregard for the host city/country that lies underneath.

The closing ceremony was entitled "Harmonious Cacophony" and involved both able-bodied actors and others with disabilities. The theme was described by organizers as a "world inspired by the Paralympics, one where differences shine."

Talk is cheap, "Differences shine"

The closing ceremony was entitled "Harmonious Cacophony" and involved both able-bodied actors and others with disabilities. The theme was described by organizers as a "world inspired by the Paralympics, one where differences shine."

Talk is cheap, "Differences shine"

I am sure posts won't be deleted any longer here due to differences

A study by the University of Oxford found these to be the most expensive Games on record. Japan officially spent $15.4 billion to organize the Olympics and Paralympics, double the original estimate. Several government audits suggested the real costs are twice that. All but $6.7 billion is public money.

Why is it the University of Oxford that did the studies, why isn't it reported by the Japanese themselves ? or is it a case of Shougani and maintaining the Wa or Self Restraint not ruffling the feathers of the establishment.

Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the organizing committee and a former deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, framed the costs as an investment. He acknowledged that it's difficult to sort out what are - and what are not - Olympic costs.

If it is so difficult then how did they arrive at the official figures ? and if he is admitting it is so difficult he doesn't have a clue what the cost is then why should the public or world believe any figures that they come up with.

Tokyo was also haunted by a vote-buying scandal during the bid process that forced the resignation 2 1/2 years ago of Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda. He was also an International Olympic Committee member.

We are not hearing anything about the French investigation and now that France is the next host

there is no longer any investigation.

The Tokyo Games were a model of efficiency and friendliness," Olympic historian David Wallechinsky said in an email to The Associated Press. "

"Efficiency", I guess he never heard about the 120K lunch boxes that were dumped and thrashed. Well, he has more insight from his plush Washington office that us on the ground. The Internet is revealing that History as a subject is a joke.

No other country could have put this all together but Japan! It was difficult, it was controversial, it was polarizing, but if it had been a different country, it would have been the worst ever. Luckily it was in Japan.

Hilarious.

No other nation, with the exception of China, would go ahead and put on an Olympics in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.

Why on earth would you?

No other country could have put this all together but Japan! It was difficult, it was controversial, it was polarizing, but if it had been a different country, it would have been the worst ever. Luckily it was in Japan.

Not surprised at all, anything that gives a "Feel Good" or moment of pride is welcome even if it is at the expense of the general public. Why so much obsession with how the country is viewed abroad or comparison with other countries even when comparison is obviously not possible. Is the country so insecure of itself or is there an underlying inferiority complex ?

Be yourself Japan and stop worrying so much about how the world views you.

The "genocide games" are only concerning Muslims, when China has been doing the same against other groups for decades, along with a number of other countries. It's propaganda for the Muslim community and nothing else.

Keep in mind that the debts of the Nagano Olympics haven't been repaid yet!

David StefanssonToday  09:25 am JST

Congratulation Japan for this unique Olympics.

The people of Japan should be proud of it.

Yes lets be proud for the biggest stupidity holding useless games in a worldwide pandemic.

tooheysnewToday  09:05 am JST

the complainers will complain - it’s in their nature.

The superspreader hasn’t come to fruition, so they’ve turned their attention to their tax money being wasted.

Next week, it’ll be something else

Yes I noticed the shift from "super spreader" to "high taxes". Not surprising though.

Some are still trying to claim it diverted attention from the pandemic (as if the same person organizing the synchronized swimming is the same person responsible for vaccine rollout strategy) and must be linked in some way to the rise in cases (ignoring the fact with the delta variant, cases are rising all over the world).

The problem I have at such comments is they move focus from the real issues such as the slow vaccine rollout and badly planned covid hospital resources. The seeds for these problems go back decades.

Alfie NoakesToday  09:39 am JST

We'll never know the true costs, either in terms of money spent, lives lost and opportunities wasted, but I'd bet there's not much change from $35bn.

No you don't know.

However, despite no credible evidence, it will not stop you speculating.

So youre saying... There's a chance- to find out?

TokyoiteToday 03:01 pm JST

Alfie NoakesToday  09:39 am JST

We'll never know the true costs, either in terms of money spent, lives lost and opportunities wasted, but I'd bet there's not much change from $35bn.

No you don't know.

However, despite no credible evidence, it will not stop you speculating.

"The Paralympics may leave a more tangible legacy in Japan than the Olympics, raising public awareness about people with disabilities and the provision of accessible public space."

Yeah, but my gosh some of the garbage they were trying to hit us over the head with during the closing was soooooo bad that I had to change the channel, such as,

"I'm not praying for a cure, I'm praying for a new handbag!" (I'm like you!)

or the notion being pushed that one guy pleasure's himself to porn just like others do. Just unbelievable. You don't need to constantly say you're normal for people to think you're normal. In fact, someone constantly trying to ram down your throat the idea that they are normal will often draw attention to the likelihood you are not. The message was clear without them trying to dummy it down to the point of not wanting to hear it, especially after watching it is at least a modicum of acceptance to begin with. In fact, I now regret watching what I did.

I just glad that the debacle is….finally OVER.

And I like how it says the saga is at an end, when paying for it is just beginning, and all those who forced this on the nation have all retired or passed away. So, let's say Kishida comes into power, his response to having to raise taxes to pay for the Olympics, "Wasn't me!"

Irresponsible responsible people such as Hashimoto or Muto only praise or justify themselves by taking advantage of number of Japanese medalists.

But medals or emotion cannot rescue human lives.

in the shadow of Olympics and Paralympics decorated with plausible advertising words, Japanese society continues to face to healthcare crisis.

Over 135 thousands patients cannot even hospitalize, are forced to stay at home without even something medical assistance, and part of them have died one after another everyday.

And over 4 trillion yen that "compact and inexpensive Olympics" wasted weigh to society including people who had opposited Olympics.

This political disaster brought many victim and heavy burden only.

Japanese society continues to consume any events as content and forget easily and immediately whatever had happened, Olympics and Paralympics are never exception.

Tokyo 2020 will become mere past in Japan as same as past Olympics.

@Hideomi Kuze.

You are the only brave Japanese person within the dens of Japanese right-wing swines.

Paralympic athletes - inspiring ambassadors. Not mourning for what they have lost, they have shown a new way forward to all their admirers. Three Cheers.