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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Suga asks Bach to ensure Olympics will be safe, particularly for Japanese public
By STEPHEN WADE TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
109 Comments
smithinjapan
Wow, so what Suga is saying is that Japan is too weak to help itself, and despite his own promises for a safe Games, it's not happening, so Bach should somehow swoop in and perform a miracle.
surfer21
Trying to pass the buck already....when the japanese are running the games! LOL
PerformingMonkey
Chinese, Japanese, they are all the same to Beethoven.
Abbey
One muppet leading another muppet.
God help us !
Nobnaga
this headline should be "Suga asks Bach to infect everyone with covid19 in Olympics so maybe japan and the rest of the world can understand safety''
blahblah222
There's really no reason for Suga to be worried. Sure there's an election coming up, but the LDP will be winning a landslide, so even if Suga is gone, the LDP will still have absolute power for the foreseeable future.
LDP support is still well above 30% while the closest opposition is only 5-10%. It would be impossible for the LDP to lose. LDP support margin vs. opposition is higher now than the previous election, so I would instead expect LDP to gain seats this coming election. Even if Japanese voters disapprove the LDP, come election day, the votes will all go to LDP.
Yotomaya
Suga: Do you mind doing my job for me?
Bach: Sure, I can run China.
mz16
Bach's gotta make sure to explicitly say JAPANESE people in every sentence after that Chinese people slip.
louisferdinandc
Ah the good old times when the borders were closed even to residents, and the government was testing people only in Kabukicho to blame it on the depraved. But here is such a wonderful opportunity to blame it on the hyper-tested, vaccinated foreigners.
kurisupisu
I’m incredulous-Suga is passing responsibility to Bach?
cleo
I thought he'd already assured us that it would be safe? Was I dreaming?
No one is safe until everyone is safe.
... and the so-called ban on non-urgent, unnecessary cross-country travel?
Oh look, a squirrel!
William77
This government is beyond any words,the closest thing that I come with is that they are a bunch of clowns,starting with Suga.
LDP/Nippon kaigi is slowly bringing Japan back to feudalism,and the people who voted them are equally responsible so I see no justification to side them.
Every time the LDP/Nippon Kaigi sees a problem they throw the problems to the others or the gaijin and play the victims.
I am so very sure that many expats that made Japan as their living home regret such choice,including me.
We hoped that they would evolve and modernize,and actually it is the opposite.
itsonlyrocknroll
This Pathogenic virus plays hid and seek.
Countries that have taken every precaution have be left playing whack-a-mole.
Japan with less that twenty percent of the population fully vaccinated?
With an ever growing aged community, people with existing health conditions, the overall proportion at risk is exceptionable.
Accept this fact is an unacceptable risk.
Magnet
Nice to see the media social distancing in the press con photos. Great example of things to come under Suga's and Bach's watch.
JCR
Of course Suga asks him to do that, because when Suga says something, no one believes him.
Magnet
Interesting... I thought the Prime Minister of Japan was Suga, not Bach. Who's really in charge of Japan?
Ricky Kaminski13
The bitterness and negativity here has become vitriol. Everyone having fun? The spreader event has been overplayed and the drumbeats of defeatism are loud and clear.
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Which is what I’m doing. Wanting something to fail has never been a good look.
Gunna wait until the games start and cheer my Aussie team with a nice cold tinny and a silly green and gold yellow hat. This may still work folks, I know that’s a hard thing to even entertain, but hey, watch the country turn on a dime when the medals start coming in. It was never going to be ideal, but now it’s on, am gunna try and enjoy it. Sorry, not with yaz on this one.
ozzy, ozzy , ozzy!
check this for reference if you wanna join .
https://youtu.be/Su3C7ROGcnY
hatsufred
Is it possible that Bach and Suga have performed a body transfer ?
they seem confused as to their roles in this farce
starpunk
What a pathetic joke this is! Shirk your responsibilities and play 'mommy-may-I'. Suga *asks*** Bach. He needs to grow a pair and tell him NO**.
itsonlyrocknroll
Bach has a clear conflict of interests, the need to maintain IOC revenue stream, plus the requirement to a duty of care to the health and safety of the people of Japan.
The Japan healthcare system is at risk.
Suga san has made a fundamental error of judgement, that's is putting it mildly, a deliberate understatement.
Bach has no authority, or direct accountability, neither a mandate, or political responsibility under any laws of the state.
Just a contract not worth the paper it is written on if the Government of Japan in a state of emergency just unilaterally pulled the rug from under his feet.
And sited the act as a necessary response to a clear and present danger to life.
There is no court that the Government of Japan would recognize that Bach's IOC could turn to.
Beto Ramirez
Wow. Suga is the poster boy for being a whipped slave puppet
Kumagaijin
My thoughts exactly. Its Bach's responsibility now, not Suga's.
Kobe White Bar Owner
All so he can find a scapegoat and blame it on the gaijin to dodge responsibility as always.
Mizuame
The point is simply a vote getter for Suga for the upcoming general election.
TheReds
The blind leads the blind.
Anonymist
Does he think Bach has 40 million shots of Pfizer in his pocket?
AramaTaihenNoYouDidnt
With all matters considered, they both (Suga and Bach) should dismiss each other with the insipid games and place first and foremost the salubrious welfare of the citizens.
John Noun
Suga shifting all blame.
Do the hustle
It’s all well and good for Suga to ask Bach to ensure the safety of the people of Japan, but with over a thousand new cases in Tokyo yesterday who is gonna save them from themselves? Isn’t that Suga’s responsibility?
AManInJapan
Suga & Bach - probably the 2 most depised people in Japan at the moment.
One an incompetent oaf and the other a greedy megalomaniac.
anon99999
The real person Suga should be asking to guarantee a safe Olympics for the Japanese people is ABE
"The president of the Japanese organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, told the Nikkan Sports newspaper late last month that the Games would have to be canceled if the pandemic is not under control by next summer. But Mori has also expressed misgivings about Abe’s decision to opt for a one-year delay rather than a two-year delay.
He told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper that Abe has insisted on a one-year delay and has predicted that a vaccine would be available by then. Mori described it as a “gamble” by the prime minister."
shogun36
For what?
What truce? Between the Japanese public and the games they don't want or need? No thanks.
Just keep counting your funny money in your hotel room, stay there and shut it.
The sooner this ends, the sooner no one needs to hear or see your face again.
shogun36
Suga.....what are you asking him for? This was YOUR job. And you failed. Miserably.
Who told you guys to START public vaccinations in LATE May?
You guys "said" it started in Feb or Mar or whenever the lie was. But get serious, we know NO ONE was getting it until just a couple of months ago.
Suga, time for you to disappear.
shogun36
Based on what? Being vaccinated was NOT a requirement, as determined by the IOC, JOC and Japanese government. And Since when does Bach keep track of all Olympic athlete's vaccination status?
What does that even mean? What is "almost" 100%? So 1 out of 100 did not get vaccinated? Well, shoot em up! Why not?
no one is "immune" to this. Who are they? Superman? A robot?
Harry_Gatto
Suga san: Bach is a guest here, making the games safe is YOUR responsibility, not his. He will be leaving soon, the rest of the population has to stay and take its chances. Do your job! If you can't then get someone in who can.
Joe Unc
What if Bach replied ‘No’. Isn’t it Bach who should be asking Suga the same question. And isn’t too late to be asking this ? I think Suga has already been told by Japanese health authorities that it’s impossible to ensure the safety of the Japanese people.
YeahRight
I bet Bach actually believes this. Idiot.
Thomas Tank
I feel safe already.
lolz
wanderlust
'President' Bach - a glorified sports event producer and money collector - just one job every two years - usually!
Kinnammet
I'm just a bit scared now. Japan might become the petri dish of mixed Covid variants. Who knows, a super mutated omega class (if there is such a thing, only x-men fans would know) variant might develop and it might be more resistant to current available medicines. It will be made in Japan, so knowing Japan standard, yeah it will be a class of its own.
I'm going to vote that we should name it the B.S. variant. To honor Bach-Suga and their BS policies.
Man up Suga sama...try to drink sake with a bit of cement mixed in to toughen you a bit. Bach is running your show. Where is your pride or nationalism?
daito_hak
They are not part of it anymore, they are just being used to pay for this circus. I don't care about the athletes, they can go to compete in an event that does not cost so much money to the tax payer.
Pukey2
Unbelievable. It makes Suga look even weaker.
Richard Gallagher
Where is governor Koike, she that wishes to ascend to the office of prime minister?
Suga, an international leader, with the pretense of shunting responsibility for the safety of the Japanese people to the head of a foreign sports authority.
Foreign athletes are sequestered at a hotel in Nara, near Shin-Omiya. Not exactly contained within a bubble. In a hotel where they interact with staff and members of the public.
This scenario is repeated throughout Japan. From Hokkaido to Honshu to Shikoku to Kyushu. Which is contrary to the manufactured illusion, athletes will be contained in the Olympic Village.
Yesterday, the Women's National Soccer Team played Australia in Kyoto. There were spectators, however limited, in the stadium. Coach Takakura, notably, was not wearing a mask. Though she is in the age range to be immunized. However minimal, there were interactions between the team members and staff with outside individuals. Let alone the folks in the stadium. Which is simply baffling.
Robert Cikki
So wait a minute, who is responsible for ensuring the safety and health of their own population, the citizens? Isn't it up to the government? Who is hosting these games?
clown world
Welcome to the CGI Tokyo 2020 Fake Olympics. The only place on earth where the blind lead the blind and the fat guests like John Coates aren't forced to bow because they're too fat...
Hiroshi13
Bach looks visibly confused by Suga's request since he was focused on protecting the 'Chinese people'.
iradickle
Lol, I bet he was all to eager to pass that buck to someone else. Now he can blame Bach for anything that may come up.
Mohan
Instead the Virus gained confidence from the measures in place.
Bjorn Tomention
He cant ensure anything except that his pockets will be bulging with money after the event, disgusting and insulting person !
didou
Only PR for Suga putting all responsibilities on the IOC. But Japan has authorities too. Too easy to blame the IOC.
Why Suga does care about the Japanese public anyway. He did not allow the public to attend the events, so he should not have any concern about the risks.
Sanjinosebleed
Bach said "No Problems"! then asked "Are there any consequences if I don't"?
To which Suga replied "none"!
Anonymous
Cut out the payroll-heavy and bribe-riddled IOC leadership and permanently move the games back to Olympia in Greece.
kyushubill
Bach, the real emperor of Japan.
Who knew.
BlackFlagCitizen
Why is Suga asking Bach about safety assurances? Bach is not the one who can deploy personnel or direct people already put in place at the airport, etc to do anything - that's your job, Suga!
drlucifer
Who told this moron that japanese people have overcome so many challenges ?
Chili
He has a superb administrative skill. Blame shifting! たまたまぶらぶら!
anon99999
All going well - not.
https://nationalpost.com/news/olympics-covid-cases-found-at-olympic-hotel-in-japan-as-ioc-hails-historic-games-2
wanderlust
Contractually, the missing Governor Koike, and the Tokyo government are responsible to the Japanese residents, along with the OCOG/ JOC. Suga is just the current figure head for the money supply to pay for the whole thing, but is 'in charge' of Japan.
Technically, either of them could stay 'Stop', but they would have to pay the price, as the Lords of the Rings would want their 'pound of flesh', and based on their behaviour to date, would make few allowances for the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid infections.
HBJ
This is one of the most ridiculous and pathetic things I think I’ve ever seen from a world leader.
Protect your own people Suga. It’s on you - fewer than 20% are fully vaccinated says it all.
Sven Asai
Yes, and ask the sun too, if she could switch the heat off for some weeks. lol
Tom
I thought this couldn't get any more ridiculous.
"Safe and secure" was all Suga could say in Diet for months in response to anything.
Absurd.
Sam Watters
theResident
@spinningplates: Thrown out by whom? Election not due quite yet. Japanese don't generally vote against the LDP... When they do its very short lived.
Hideomi Kuze
Empty talk between two irresponsible politicians.
Regulation has not been able to work.
Yesterday, some media reported that Olympics-related person ignored isolation and had enjoyed to stroll at Tokyo immediate after came to Japan.
Government of Japan, IOC, JOC, Tokyo 2020 committee, nobody take responsibility even if Olympics caused pandemic.
Chico3
Suga passing safety authority to Bach. Talk about weakness on Suga's part. So, Suga can't manage his country's health and safety, so he passes the buck (or yen in this case) to Bach. Oh boy! Good luck with that.
Jim
This will go down in history for sure - an elected prime minister of a sovereign country shrugging off his ONLY responsibility - to ensure safety of its residents - and asking a head of NGO to do this task for him
Beyond crazy and one can only hope the Japanese nationals for a change wake up from their slumber and vote these jokers out - past 23 years experience here tells me not going to happen but one can always hope!!!!
Tom Doley
Pure comedy. Suga trying his best to pre-emptively pass the blame to IOC if things go wrong.
GW
Spectacularly pathetic!!!
Tokyo-Engr
It seems like Suga asking or beging what appears to be his master, Bach, to protect Japanese citizens, who are being treated as subjects by the IOC and by the LDP. I am a resident, not a citizen, so I believe it is more important to see how the actual citizens are being treated (and how they feel about it).
It seems Bach is demanding, rather than asking the Japanese to "gain confidence" as he is saying they "have to" do so. This man Bach is a narcissist. What he needs to do is articulate why the protective measures are effective which he has not even come close to doing. This is arrogance.
It is nice to see such an honest statement in this article. It is in fact and admittedly so all about the money. The money generated for the IOC is all that matters. So what is the acceptable level of casualties to achieve their required income.
The article should be more honest in this statement and just state the real number which is 70,000 to 80,000 people who will not be isolated from the public and requested to take actions to prevent the spread of infection.
Since Tokyo is now in a State of Emergency and even by the government's own numbers is experiencing a rapid rise in infections it would also seem that the very real risk of outbound infections such as people infected in Japan by the variant or whatever variant is created by people from all over the world mixing, needs to be addressed. The IOC seems to be well aware of this as they have required participants to sign a waiver which releases them of any liability which specifically mentions Covid-19. The IOC knows there is a risk of this turning bad but they still push forward to satisfy their lust for money and power.
Very sad.
sf2k
your money is safe with me, said Bach
Aly Rustom
Suga asks Bach to ensure Olympics will be safe, particularly for Japanese public
considering his gaffe a few days ago, I seriously wonder if Bach has the competence to ensure Olympics will be safe, particularly for the Japanese public.
Yubaru
Anybody watch Mezamashi News this AM?
They interviewed a few members of the international broadcast team that were seen walking around near the broadcast center for the Olympics. They asked about what they went through when they first got here in Japan .
First the guy from the US said they had to self-isolate for 3 days, get 1 PCR test, and had to initially install a tracking application on their smart phones, but that was only for a week, and after the three days, they were free to move about, and they had NO further PCR testing, and the tracking app they deleted after a week.
What the government is telling anyone and everyone is 100% different than reality.
Why am I not surprised!
Alfie Noakes
A piteous attempt to deflect responsibility onto the IOC. Is there an election on the horizon, or something?
Phil
Its is always Hope this and Hope that. We should be Demanding the IOC ensures the athletes and stakeholders follow all the rules. After all, if the Olympics does lead to a spike in infections and medical system overload, the IOC will be long gone.
spinningplates
Suga needs to step down or be thrown out; immediately.
He and his government are out of their depth, faced with a Pandemic they don't understand and a greedy and manipulative IOC that has manipulated them for personal gain at every turn.
Suga is the exact definition of 'not fit for purpose' he is skulking around doing absolutely nothing.
Brent Forrest
This will probably end well
Mark
So now Bach and the IOC is in charge of the pandemic.
Aly Rustom
I can't tell which of these two men is full of more hot air.
Their comments would be comical if the situation wasn't so bad.
stickman1760
Ask??He should tell him it better be safe or I will shut the whole thing down in the blink of an eye and send everyone, including you home. This is your country Suga. You don’t need to ask anything. Act like a leader for God’s sake.
gogogo
Passing the buck, he is not responsible for Japan's current infection rate!
virusrex
The amount of resources (both financial and in manpower) the games have taken from the anti-pandemic efforts means that they have already brought more risk to the Japanese population. Making a Joke of the SoE is bound to increase the spreading of the disease even more, even if the supposed bubble was perfect, and it is full of holes.
Cricky
Suga is passing the responsibility off, as usual. Things go pear shaped he can blame the IOC. And claim he was not responsible. LDP play book rule 1 never admit responsibility.
iworld99
Why does Suga asks Bach? Does the IOC decides, implements and controls the covid-19 safety measures/vaccinations for foreign arrivals and the japanese internal vaccination programs?
Samit Basu
Huh, Suga is the one responsible for the safety of Japanese public, not Bach.
snowymountainhell
Never was a particular concern for them before:
“asks for Japanese public”.
Kapuna
Suga-san needs to know that IOC President Bach does not have that power.
snowymountainhell
This is ‘a First’ in IOCLDPJOC politics:
”asks…’particularly for’ Japanese public”
sakurasuki
No one can ensure that.
The Nomad
So Suga is passing the responsibility to Bach? And they're still working on ensuring the " understanding" of the people? Don't they listen to the general opinions? The citizens DON'T understand why the Olympics have to go ahead while they have to give up their summer holidays
Asiaman7
Suga-san, stop being the IOC’s patsy. Show some backbone. Why is the Japanese government assisting Bach and Coates in this ruse to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki? There’s no contractual obligation. The additional movement throughout the country increases the likelihood of the virus spreading. And the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki don’t want them there!
obladi
Dear Mr. Suga: The way to keep things Safe is to not hold the olympics during a pandemic.
AG
Keep hoping for that.
Does anyone really trust Bach man who continuously stated the games would go ahead at any cost, and that later (a few days ago) thought he was in China?
All his moves will be made 100% with money in his mind. The people of the hosting country will never be taken into consideration, shockingly.
jiji Xx
oft-stated..... but they never mention the tens of thousands who have been here for months: organizers, facilitators, Meeja people...... electric generator engineers! and who knows who else.
Asiaman7
“Welcome us because we are vaccinated and safe — even though you are not.” Would you ask your unvaccinated relatives to welcome you? Then don’t ask us!
TARA TAN KITAOKA
How silly can suga be. bach is not god.