Call to cancel Tokyo Olympics becomes issue in race for Tokyo governor

Finally someone clever! This money for O.G since the beginning should have been used for tohoku and social issues. As corona virus can infect everyone, maybe people will finally think deeply how money should be used by government....

If you ask me, why don't they just make a deadline before the targeted date ahead of the Olympics, where if there's still no vaccine during that time and there are still coronavirus cases, then they will postpone the event for another year. Though I'm sure it wouldn't be a popular decision. It's either you delay the sports event or they find a way to compete from home, if that's even possible

Isn't it the IOC that has to cancel it, otherwise liability would lie with Japan for compensation to sponsors?

It's such a shame though, because you can see they made a huge effort with infrastructure. Would have been a great games.

Vested interests getting 12 more months of income at tax payer expenses for at best 2 weeks of scaled down or potentially no games. Might as well flush a few more billions down the drain in the vain hope that politicians can pat themselves on the back for doing nothing but inflating the own self image.

"Japan is slated to pay most of the cost." The name of the games is TOKYO OLYMPICS, not Japan Olympics. Why is my tax money going to be used to fund this? I didn't want it in the first place, the money should have been used for the Tohoku area. Let Tokyo, Mori, Abe, Koike and the like pay for it. Oh, and have that fencing chief, Ota pay for it too, he was hot n' heavy for the games. Cancel, cut losses now and be done with it.

I for one cannot wait for the olympics in Japan. Can you just imagine it? We would all need to distance ourselves at every event. At the station. In the bars. In the restrooms. While walking. How much would those tickets cost to socially distance at the games?

“There is no guarantee to hold the games safely in Tokyo, and we don’t have a vaccine yet" for COVID-19.

Very true. Even with vaccines, the cost to maintain a safe Olympics is just too high for a poor country.

It was looking like Koike would cruise to victory, but I wonder if this issue might harm her chances. The arguments against the games next year are starting to pile up.

I like how she put that - 'fight against the coronavirus'. 'Fight' is a human response to a stimulus. The coronavirus has no such response, unless it's able to genetically change itself to overcome any man-made opponent (in the form of drugs, that can do a lot more harm).

Just thinkin'.

when it becomes a proof of victory in our fight against the coronavirus

How is wasting more tax money on an already over-budget sports event proof of “victory” over coronavirus?

We must gain the understanding of the residents of Tokyo and citizens,

Typical J-politician remark. We already “understand” fully: the games are just a huge funneling of taxpayer money to large vested interests. I say this as a long term Tokyo resident who opposed the games all along

Spend more on helping those who need it. Cancel the stupid Olympics already.

Has she ever lived in Tokyo in July? Hot. Vaccine needs years of testing. 2nd wave will come. Second and Thirld world countries won’t have the resources to contain/treat the virus so they countries should be banned. The opening and closing ceremonies are the most exciting events.

she is not so up with it all.

Koike has declined to give an official estimate, as have the IOC and the local organizing committee.

As an elected official she must tell taxpayers how much.

Koike, like the IOC, is betting the Olympics can be framed as a victory celebration over the pandemic, and the public will forget the tax bill.

Exactly how dumb does she think the public is??

Isn't it the IOC that has to cancel it, otherwise liability would lie with Japan for compensation to sponsors?

Stuff the IOC. What are they going to do? No court would support them.

dbsaiya,

have a think about it

Koike will probably still win but what will she say when she has to cancel the Olympics because they will not be able to happen then, even Blind Freddy can see that. As if the world will be back to pre covid by then so it could happen. (Faint possibility an olympics with no spectators but what good is that to Japan financially, the IOC would got all the TV rights.)

And then when it is inevitably cancelled because the covid risk is too high or no countries want or are able or can afford to participate what t will she say about the billions that will be wasted on this impossible dream. Just the usual Japanese apologies I guess.

Maybe it does make sense to bump it to 2024, then Paris moves from 2024 to 2028, and LA from 2028 to 2032. That's probably the most logical and do-able option. The main downside being a number of current athletes who are near retirement would probably miss out on his/her final Olympics.

500 years ago, in the ancient Greece we wont have this debate.

Its about atlethes competing to win a gold medal, not about selling tickets.

Let the athetes run, and jump, and do their job. And forget the sales.

All this talk of a vaccine as a magic solution, just a few months away.

36 years on, and there is still no HIV vaccine!

While this may not be enough to topple Koike, it is going to become an even bigger issue on the national stage as the year goes on, and with the potential for another large outbreak during the winter flu season, it is very conceivable that the Olympics will finally be cancelled once and for all!

Watch out however for more under -reporting and misleading information about COVID within the next 6 months or so here!

Maybe it does make sense to bump it to 2024, then Paris moves from 2024 to 2028, and LA from 2028 to 2032

No it doesn’t! Just to save one Olympic Games why should two other future Olympic Games postpone and put up with additional costs! Tokyo postponing the Olympic by a year cost them billions so imagine the amount of money required to postpone it again by 3 more years and the Paris as well as LA ones by 4 years! It’s not that simple to push back everything as you mentioned! At the end of the day, taxpayers will suffer!

The Tokyo olympics will go ahead regardless. They will also be a cut back crappy games. I’m so glad I didn’t buy into it.

Just have the Olympic Games with live broadcast without spectators. Allow athletes and officiating members at the venues after testing for corona virus upon their arrival in Japan. They should also have test done before departing their countries! Open up the borders already to move the economy! Corona virus will not get a vaccine anytime soon but we need to restart our life. Traveling should be granted to people who take a test before departing and after arriving ( if they aren’t affected )!

when it becomes a proof of victory in our fight against the coronavirus

Japan has somehow avoided the worst of coronavirus. This is great and I'm very grateful, but I wouldn't say the virus was defeated in the manner of a "victory".

The Olympics itself is a global event, so is Koike saying that it signifies global victory against coronavirus? Because that clearly has not happened yet. Nearly half a million dead worldwide is also not much of a victory. I would recommend somber remembrance for them, not punching the air celebration.

English is important

As many foreigners live in Tokyo

Finally someone clever! This money for O.G since the beginning should have been used for tohoku and social issues. As corona virus can infect everyone, maybe people will finally think deeply how money should be used by government....

You're absolutely right about that! The more talk the Oyajis are carrying this, the more it's costing us for "Tokyo's" mess up.

Soaring bills are an issue. Estimates in Japan say the one-year postponement will cost $2 billion to $6 billion. Koike has declined to give an official estimate, as have the IOC and the local organizing committee. They say it's too early to know, but Japan is slated to pay most of the costs.

How do they define "Japan?" Japan as the government, Japan, as the residents, both. I guess either way, we're stuffed. Those who can vote here, remember this when you go to the polls. However, these Oyajis will not go away, just reshuffled.

Either Utsunomiya or Yamamoto would make a better mayor than the incompetant incumbant.

Okay, so when they are inevitably cancelled (or Japan insists on a Japan-only Olympics because they're too stubborn to cancel), will she resign? Nope. She'll pretend she's suddenly concerned about the health of everyone (like she did the MINUTE the 2020 Games were postponed) and say she must stay in power to ensure stability.

Japan has done a good job with the pandemic. But tight crowds is inevitable. And what happens to those who have bought the tickets to watch? If you cannot accommodate a large group! Perhaps only 1/6 to watch it?? Given if you have to be 6 feet apart. I hope they refund the money of those who cannot get inside and bought the tickets.

Find the real antidote to CORONA VIRUS.

Call off the olympics! It's a waste of money. That money would be better spent on domestic projects.

Yawn... hold your Games... we just don't have to come. Unless you have to force us like in china...

Koike, like the IOC, is betting the Olympics can be framed as a victory celebration over the pandemic, and the public will forget the tax bill.

Ummm... No. The tax bill will not be forgotten. Never should have come in the first place.