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British medical journal calls for global conversation on Tokyo Olympics

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Best not to take advice from Britain where they locked down their residents for months on end in 2020 while Covid continued to spread out of control. Fortunately we never had lockdowns or such high casualties. We were cautious and managed to balance the pandemic with our every day lives.

Japan is a different situation and things are getting better, daily, thanks to a huge increase in vaccines being administered. Plus there is already overkill on screening Olympians coming here. Ask the Australian softball team.

-55 ( +7 / -62 )

Since when has japan ever listened to the opinions of anyone who isn’t a Japanese politician

41 ( +43 / -2 )

" silence by the WHO" - any surprise? Most of its inept staff starting with Tedros should be sacked. On the other hand, the unelected members of the IOC are concerned about the millions and the sponsors - NOT about human lives.

33 ( +35 / -2 )

@Objective Blissful ignorance?

25 ( +26 / -1 )

The Lancet must be another bunch of fear mongers / doomsday supporters / conspiracy theorists. (Tick the right box).

Being sarcastic, of course but I prefer to better make it clear because some people here might actually agree with the above and tick all three boxes.

So yes, good move by The Lancet. However, a bit late... I believe it'd have been better to put this one out before the G7 summit.

18 ( +22 / -4 )

Japanese have frequently just ignored valid opinions coming from outside the country, and Suga in particular has been clear from the beginning that scientists are not people he would be listening to. So foreign scientists have a snowflake chance in hell to get that "global conversation".

27 ( +31 / -4 )

So is there anyone here who will actually boycott the Olympics?

5 ( +10 / -5 )

I think that particular horse has already bolted.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

ianToday 04:56 pm JST

So is there anyone here who will actually boycott the Olympics?

Yes. There is.

Why do you ask?

15 ( +17 / -2 )

So is there anyone here who will actually boycott the Olympics?

Yes. Of course.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

spinningplates

Yes. There is.

Why do you ask?

Just curious

1 ( +6 / -5 )

They clearly don’t understand that the amount of signage and thousands of orange cones can and will ensure a safe games, hell the security staff are going to taste spectators liquids. They just haven’t got any understanding of how tight the rules are! There is tape on the floor creating safe barriers for people, other official people shouting warnings. It will be fine cleansing in fact. They just don’t get it.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

That makes 3 major medical journals to say the same thing.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

How the respected, British medical journal, can believe that up to $26 billion can be dismissed as a global conversation?

Over a decent red, and canapes.......

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

So is there anyone here who will actually boycott the Olympics?

Of course!

I don’t have time as I am too busy searching for my face masks to enter restaurants, shops, trains, ferries, hotels etc

1 ( +7 / -6 )

So many medical and scientific groups making sensible comments on the Games, while those with power choose to ignore them and the inevitable consequences of going ahead.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

So is there anyone here who will actually boycott the Olympics?

I have ignored them for well over 20 years or more and will continue to ignore them.

A bunch Athletes from mostly rich countries come together with the best financed best equipped teams to compete with Athletes from countries that often have to beg expats to house their support staff and train with equipment 20 or 30 years out of date.

What is the point anymore?

6 ( +10 / -4 )

It's about time! I've been wondering when medical experts from around the world were going to raise their voices about the Olympics. The Lancet is a highly respected medical journal and am glad, albeit a bit late, in calling for this.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

Everyone knows it is extremely dangerous to hold the Olympics, but the MONEY is more important than anything!

10 ( +13 / -3 )

It's far too late. If a nation doesn't want the Olympic virus they should start banning participants of any kind entering Japan. But the machine won' t be stopped. Not like last year. All the exact same people have now turned a blind eye for money.

Best to get the second shot as soon as you can

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Don't worry! We will soon get the facts from the pro Olympics specialists that will tell us that The Lancet, The New England journal of medicine and The BMJ all have no idea what they are saying.

This because the IOC is run by outstanding, philanthropist so honest and trustworthy they are soon to be canonized by the Pope and that they know better and "promised" the games will be safe.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

I’m tired of all these experts!

Our Derek is on t’internets and he says it’s all a big do over nothing.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Best to get the second shot as soon as you can

I would love to get my first shot but no paper yet from my ward, only ones that did were the children's mid 90s grandparents and they won't get their first shots until mid July.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

A global conversation. By Zoom?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Called it!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

It is shocking and saddening that the Japanese government did not do a better job of getting the populace vaccinated ahead of the Olympics.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Glad the Lancet has added its voice to the growing chorus, though it would have been better earlier, and perhaps more effective before the G7 meeting.

With sufficient scientific pressure perhaps the major countries can yet be persuaded to pull their teams on health grounds.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

On second thought and although I welcome the Lancet piece it also comes so late in the game that it has a CYA aftertaste.

What are the actual chances of launc

3 ( +4 / -1 )

... hing a global conversation now?

(Previous post cut)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Ah, the bastion of medical creedence, The Lancet / BMJ...

They published a paper declaring treatment of covid 19 with HCQ ineffective, months later it was retracted, as its contributors were found to be "unreliable".

Those treatments could have saved lives.

Now, they want a "Global Conversation"...

It seems like a pose.

All these organizations are on the same side of the coin- where money and agenda are concerned, data, science, and scruples often take a hike.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Blue

Well put, let’s find out the facts not just believe any old rag that agrees with our beliefs.

Still fail to understand the agenda of those wanting to cancel the event and destroy years of hard work by so many and wreck the dreams of the athletes.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

The reputation of The Lancet took a beating last year with Lancetgate, where they published a made up study that said that hydroxychloroquine was ineffective and dangerous for the treatment of Covid19, just in time for the approval of Gilead's Remdesivir, which was truly ineffective and dangerous.

For the Lancet to have published such a made up study indicates they no longer have the high standards they used to have, they have been compromised, probably by big pharma. Everything out of the Lancet should be taken with a grain of salt.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Follow the science, but only the science I believe in. That’s a cult.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Still fail to understand the agenda of those wanting to cancel the event and destroy years of hard work by so many and wreck the dreams of the athletes.

Some might wonder why Japan, with so few vaccinations, has so few Covid-19 cases/deaths and does not have any lock down. We can't have that!!!

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

The reputation of The Lancet took a beating last year with Lancetgate, where they published a made up study that said that hydroxychloroquine was ineffective and dangerous for the treatment of Covid19, just in time for the approval of Gilead's Remdesivir, which was truly ineffective and dangerous.

Nothing of the sort, as soon as the company that was responsible for the data refused to share it they put an expression of concern to the articles and once it was confirmed there was inconsistencies with the reports they retracted the articles and made it so the reason was well known. This is exactly what is expected from a serious journal of science, Its role is not of corroborate every single piece of evidence in an article but to correct anything it publishes if anybody make a valid complain about it.

In deep contrast with this are unethical reseachers that when literally dozens of their articles are found containing fabricated and falsified data not only refused to even cooperate with the investigation but even threatened to sue the people that found the problems to silence them. This is the actual scandal related with HCQ.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01430-z

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Objective = failed objective just a little research shows The Lancet has a Dutch owner. Editorial offices in London New York and Beijing. So carry on ignore the glaring obvious and try to justify incompetence

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I blame the irresponsible IOC for ignoring the will of the Japanese people and shoving Olympics and what it may bring to the health of the nation down Japans Throat.

The IOC should be held accountable in the court of law if Japan suffers due to their lack of respect and ignorance.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The reputation of The Lancet took a beating last year with Lancetgate, where they published a made up study that said that hydroxychloroquine was ineffective and dangerous for the treatment of Covid19, just in time for the approval of Gilead's Remdesivir, which was truly ineffective and dangerous.

Nothing of the sort, as soon as the company that was responsible for the data refused to share it they put an expression of concern to the articles and once it was confirmed there was inconsistencies with the reports they retracted the articles and made it so the reason was well known. This is exactly what is expected from a serious journal of science, Its role is not of corroborate every single piece of evidence in an article but to correct anything it publishes if anybody make a valid complain about it.

No, the Lancetgate was not just some "inconsistencies", it was a completely made up study and any qualified reviewer or editor should have spotted it.

While that Lancet paper was retracted within a couple of weeks, the Didier Raoult papers on HCQ have yet to be retracted, even after over one year. He has constantly been attacked by pharma-linked people, and yet no retraction because they continue to be baseless accusations, no matter how much you want them to be true.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

Those pesky foreigners are bothering the Japanese again and upsetting the ‘wa’. As I was once told by a Japanese police officer at the end of my two hour interrogation after I apprehended a creep for filming up the skirt of a high school girl, “Stay out of Japan business!”

9 ( +9 / -0 )

No, the Lancetgate was not just some "inconsistencies", it was a completely made up study and any qualified reviewer or editor should have spotted it.

Again, even at the simple point of finding inconsistencies (meaning long before an investigation confirmed the full extent of the problem) the Journal had already retracted the papers, exactly as they were supposed to do.

Raoult on the other hand is an example of the opposite, not only it has been already confirmed he falsified ethical approvals, fabricated data and lied repeatedly presenting false images in his papers he is not cooperating at all with the investigation and instead is trying to sue those that found the problems. He has never defended himself from the accusations, much less prove them baseless. You are free to explain how is it that one single image can possibly represent completely different things in several papers.

The Lancet put an example of proper actions in the face of even indications of problems, Raoult on the other hand lost the little remaining of his international reputation by refusing to cooperate with the investigations on his frauds and threatening people just because they found evidence of them.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

@Raw Beer

Only one problem.

The Lancet is the 3dr major medical journal to say the same thing The BMJ and New England journal of medicine.

The 3 biggest the 3 most respected all agree.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

@Raw Beer

In France he is now such a laugh he is called "Didier Le Dernier!"

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government have repeatedly said the Tokyo Games can be held this summer by implementing sufficient measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Just when I thought I could not hate the IOC anymore than I do, they release this gem. The IOC is going to force these games and then feign ignorance if anything happens. Pure swine, the IOC.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Didier is a circus, of course it will attract clowns.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

"The risks of the games, and how they are being managed, need wide scrutiny and approval."

Seems no scrutiny but approval seems to be getting wide now especially with the just conclude g7 meet

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"The IOC and it's experts promise"

This is all the pro Olympics people keep saying.

Well a simple question:

Your mechanic says the used car you are looking at buying isn't good or safe, but the used car dealer says it is and his mechanic say it is but no guarantee is given for support once you drive it off the lot.

Who do you believe, your mechanic that has nothing to gain or lose or the used car dealer and his mechanic trying to sell you the car?

Well that is where we are right now,

3 major medical publications with no skin in the game have called the games safety into question and the IOC with everything to loose say they are safe. What does logic tell you?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I used to get all uptight about the way Japan has handled things! The vaccinations! The Olympics! But I have realised …. There is nothing ANYONE can do or say. Japan will just do what it wants !! I have come to realise why the Japanese are so indifferent to anything … they realised this years ago !!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Disgusted in the disgusting way this disgusting shambles has been managed and handled in such a disgusting way by very disgusting people , all I can say is its D I S G U S T I N G !

Tokyo , Japan, the Olympic Games Committee you are are utterly completely disgusting, make no mistake about that .....the whole world can see it,

3 ( +6 / -3 )

3 top medical journals, 2 major Japanese Doctors associations, Japan's nurses association, countless other experts all are opposed the the IOC plan and doubt the safety of the Olympics.

But these IOC and it's supporters say all of them are wrong and only the IOC and it's paid fully owned experts are to be believed.

Now how gullible can anyone be to think the paid IOC so-called experts and IOC are to be trusted over all the above.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

@falseflagsteve. I feel badly for the athletes but worse for the citizens who have lost their livelihoods and futures. Instead of spending billions and billions of dollars to people who facilitate watching athletes run and jump around, let’s help the citizens who have truly suffered. We all have dreams, stuff. Most of us just don’t subsidized for them.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

the games will be safe, all measures are being taken to ensure that.

If it's not hidden propaganda from j-gov staff, i don't know what it is ...

As an individual, i wonder who would geniune be so much supportive of everything done by this government.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The Lancet said the silence by the World Health Organization and other major health bodies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a "deflection of responsibility" as the Olympics and the Paralympics could lead to spreading the virus in Japan and other countries.

Who cares what the Lancet says. Another politicized rag.

Peter Daszak’s channel of misinformation.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30418-9/fulltext

Enough of this scam.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

If it's not hidden propaganda from j-gov staff, i don't know what it is ...

As an individual, i wonder who would geniune be so much supportive of everything done by this government.

Got that a long time ago.

Who in the 21st century still describes people as "honorable Men" "Trustworthy" etc...

The only time we hear things like "this honorable man" etc.. today are in period British dramas or on the floor of the British parliament. It sounds so fake as almost an attempted at sounding British to the point of comical.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Are people aware that the entire Olympic entourage coming into Japan is 1) mostly vaccinated and 2) about a 1/10th the number of people passing through Ikebukuro station every single day? Perspective, folks.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Who cares what the Lancet says. Another politicized rag.

So I guess you consider the New England journal of medicine and The BMJ also rags?

What about 2 Japanese doctors associations and nurses associations also politicized groups?

Tell me if an independent mechanic tells you the used car you are looking at buying is not good or safe but the dealer's mechanic says it is, who do you believe?

Because that is where we are now, the used car dealer (the IOC) says the games are going to be safe but every other group not involved in the Olympics total outside no skin in the game says the will not be

So logically who should we believe?

4 ( +10 / -6 )

To those who complain that the IOC and government are using bent scientists to get there way, remember this. The games have been endorsed by the heads of the G7. These leaders are advised by experts too. Let’s stop this conspiracy lunacy here and accept the facts.

we should never take advice or believe those who push baseless conspiracy theories.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Perspective, folks.

Ok!

How much wasted time resources and energy bus being spent in the games? How much extra resources are being diverted to the games so they can be held during a pandemic?

Now what if all that had been put into proper testing better vaccination organisation locally?

Yes perspective indeed!

Wasted time wasted resources instead of concentrating on getting the local population Vaccinated and things back to some semblance of normality.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Bit late for talk and consultation, and there was some form of it, just not with you.

No doubt there is going to be strain on the medical system, but you have no say in it, your opinion matters not.

In the end, if it's your income on the line then you might find some way to reason that it's well worth the risk

3 ( +5 / -2 )

IOC supporters logic 101

IOC and it's paid so-called experts say the games will be safe.

1+1=2

The Lancet, the BMJ, the New England journal of medicine, the 2 Japanese doctors associations the Japanese nurses association all say the IOCs plan is not good and safety cannot be assured.

1+1+2+1= 5

IOC supporters logic 2 is greater than 5.

In the accounting world they call this creative accounting.

The tax office calls it illegal and a crime.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

All 11,000 or so athletes and their teams should be vaccinated before coming to Japan. If the US can vaccinate 4 million people in one day, it shouldn't be too hard to vaccinate even 50,000 in a few weeks. If not, it's going to look rather stupid if some of these people return to their home countries infected.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

"All nations have an interest in the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of the games, yet discussions have largely rested with the IOC and the Japanese government," the editorial said. "The risks of the games, and how they are being managed, need wide scrutiny and approval."

Yes, and that it is the elephant in the room. The Olympics are so important that Suga went to the UK to whine about it and nag the G6 to support him. But come the time to decide, and it's down to a bunch of money grubbing grifters in an unaccountable 'organisation'. Yes, organisation in the sense the Yakuza is an organisation.

So which is it?

Surprisingly enough, there are also signs of an uptick of Covid in the area of the G7, St Ives and Falmouth. Too early to say yet, but as a local politician and health expert has pointed out:

Andrew George, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats in Cornwall on health, said he was concerned about the cases.

He said he did not believe the leaders were “vectors” for Covid. “But other people associated with G7 – security staff, police, media have been intermixing.”

So while it is early days yet, as G7 is only just winding up, and the scale is waaay smaller than the Olympics, with a mere 6,000 or 7,000 media, support and security staff, it will be interesting to see if it has anything to tell us about superspreading.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

If they are really to hold the Games as scheduled, all visiting official and media delegates should be fully vaccinated for entry, which should also be announced very soon. That's still a minimal requirement.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

In an editorial dated Saturday, The Lancet

That would be the same Lancet that just a few months back (before we knew about Faucis emails) claimed that the Coronavirus could not possible related the Wuhan virus lab? Gotta love our "experts".

3 ( +7 / -4 )

So I guess you consider the New England journal of medicine and The BMJ also rags?

What about 2 Japanese doctors associations and nurses associations also politicized groups?

What about thinking for yourself?

I had no idea you actually read those other journals

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/the-lancet-alters-editorial-practices-after-surgisphere-scandal-67953/amp

You know how truth is these days: Just change it to make it fit.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Wasted time wasted resources instead of concentrating on getting the local population Vaccinated and things back to some semblance of normality.

And waste of time reading...

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

That would be the same Lancet that just a few months back (before we knew about Faucis emails) claimed that the Coronavirus could not possible related the Wuhan virus lab? Gotta love our "experts".

Same one. A big Pharma sounding board.

And not clever enough to avoid ridicule.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

With the zillions $ involved int his Olympic I still cannot figure out how Japan could not understand the urgency of vaccination.

Welcome to the celebration of the united people victory of the COVID19.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

You know how truth is these days: Just change it to make it fit.

Been down the Q rabbit hole to long!

I had no idea you actually read those other journals

Actually I do, I may be a former paramedic but I like to keep up on certain things, I also read several French ones from France and Canada, I don't spend my time reading fiction like the Q do.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Holding and attending the Olympics are not problems, they are opportunities.

The sponsors, IOC people, J government people, anti-vaxxers and the people anxious to attend, hoop and holler, should all be required to not only attend, but to pack venues standing side-by-side. Anyone wearing a mask should be immediately removed.

The IOC should be allowed to pass around collection plates so the congregation can give to the holy symbol of the Olympics - a cross mad of dollar bills.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Same one. A big Pharma sounding board.

Oh oh the big pharma conspiracy thing now

Q is alive and well!

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Actually I do, I may be a former paramedic but I like to keep up on certain things, I also read several French ones from France and Canada, I don't spend my time reading fiction like the Q do.

I believe the link I posted was from the Lancet itself.

https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/04/lancet-retracts-major-covid-19-paper-that-raised-safety-concerns-about-malaria-drugs/

“We can no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources,” Mandeep Mehra of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Frank Ruschitzka of University Hospital Zurich, and Amit Patel of University of Utah said in a statement issued by the Lancet. “Due to this unfortunate development, the authors request that the paper be retracted.”

But that doesn’t matter, does it? And neither does your former occupation.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

The Lancet has lost all credibility .

And Peter Daszak has no credibility either.

Everything seems to be a “conspiracy theory“ to those suffering from myopia.

https://youtu.be/ANRs4DojOek

There may be opinions on the Olympics. But the Lancet cannot expect to be taken seriously.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Let those who are frightened remain at home.

Strong, healthy people will never be ruled by fear.

Let the games begin!

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

The lancet lost all credibility? yeah sure, tell that to the hundreds of papers that reference their articles every month, it could have a hundred times more retractions and it would still be more credible than Suga and the IOC a retraction is bad for the authors, but if done quickly it is good for a journal because that is what they are supposed to do.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Don’t worry, they’ll be putting out hand sanitizer for people to use, that’ll do it!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Agree there should have been a conversation among all stake holders regarding holding the Olympics.

Not sure I agree though that the WHO and CDC should be leading the conversation,

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In an editorial dated Saturday, The Lancet said the silence by the World Health Organization and other major health bodies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a "deflection of responsibility" as the Olympics and the Paralympics could lead to spreading the virus in Japan and other countries.

The editorial stated that not making vaccinations mandatory and mixing about 15,000 athletes, as well as officials, support staff and journalists from around the world could seed new outbreaks when the participants return home.

As I said before 100% attending the Olympics must be vaccinated. No vaccine no entry. It will spread around the world - not only Japan. 80% is not enough!!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As I said before 100% attending the Olympics must be vaccinated. No vaccine no entry. It will spread around the world - not only Japan. 80% is not enough!!

Yes, but it's not just about the incoming people. It's about the huge increase in people intermixing because of the games. Even supposing there are no spectators, which I think there almost certainly will be some, all the transport, hospitality - food service and cleaning, venue administrators, volunteers staff, security, local officials, local media, Japanese teams, supporters, entourage, and people just milling about because Olympic event nearby are the other problem. Most of these unvaccinated. All the intermixing is where the risk of seeding a new variant comes. The Delta is already established here, it doesn't need to be imported. Focusing just on the incoming Olympic people diverts attention from the really big risk of superspread.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The Lancet!? You mean the same rag that published a letter last year stating that the Wuhan lab leak was a crazy conspiracy theory...that Lancet?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The Lancet!? You mean the same rag that published a letter last year stating that the Wuhan lab leak was a crazy conspiracy theory...that Lancet?

Saying that the lab leak is anything but an extremely unlikely possibility not supported at the moment by any evidence would be false, the crazy conspiracy theory is believing that this unlikely possibility has been confirmed but the obvious evidence is being suppressed by all laboratories and institutes of the world.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

falseflagsteve

June 14  09:45 pm JST

we should never take advice or believe those who push baseless conspiracy theories.

Interesting contrast to a couple of months ago when the same poster was engaging in another conspiracy theory…

falseflagsteve

Apr. 4  12:13 pm JST

Posted in: Thousands rally in England and Wales over police legislation

Enforcing lockdown for almost a year and bringing in draconian laws and this is what you create

Their is a scary agenda behind all this, I’m not privy to the reason but it’s certainly not for the benefit if the general public

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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