tokyo 2020 olympics

Chinese athletes complain about lax virus measures at Tokyo Olympics hotel

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still, for the first 14 days they'll be in their rooms with no activity, no stepping out, and therefore no chance of contact with other people, so they should rest easy..... right?

24 ( +31 / -7 )

Its political.

China can’t look at something Japan does without calling us out or trying to make it look bad.

OK, I will agree that is part of it.

But did you read the article?

They actually do have a point, there really doesn't seem to be any "bubble".

Organizers have said athletes will be tested every day once they arrive in Tokyo.

What good is that? If they catch the virus locally from the poorly tested Japanese society, then the news will go on about how the "foreign" Athletes have covid, isn't that also the political dog whistle?

23 ( +29 / -6 )

The 100,000 plus visitors will be staying in dozens of hotels all over Japan. These are NOT quarantine facilities, and are NOT virus safe.

Anyone who believes virus wont be spread around is deluding themselves.

21 ( +25 / -4 )

To be fair, I'd be pretty worried if I'd only had the Sinovac shot, too.

20 ( +24 / -4 )

jiji XxToday  07:10 am JST

still, for the first 14 days they'll be in their rooms with no activity, no stepping out, and therefore no chance of contact with other people, so they should rest easy.....  right?

Until they encounter the hotel’s 25-year-old restaurant server who has just commuted to work on a crowded train after a fun evening in jam-packed Shibuya with friends.

17 ( +27 / -10 )

The Olympic Village in Tokyo is sealed off, with only authorized staff allowed to enter.

But the sailing and windsurfing competitions will be held far from the Village, with those competitors staying at a designated Olympic hotel near the venue.

For months we have heard about this safe and secure Olympic village, these outside venues were totally ignored. The media gushes when these teams arrive and are carted off to cities hours away from the Village. The Hungary basketball team ( along with the Japanese team) is all the way down here in Okinawa and playing in full stadiums.

15 ( +32 / -17 )

It is strange to see people here complaining about the lax rules related to the Olympics but when a Chinese team member does it then the Chinese team member is harshly criticized.

I despise the Chinese CCP but I agree with the Chinese athletes complaints.

15 ( +35 / -20 )

China should pay reparations for what it did, they're just deflecting.

Exactly. The world should hold the PRC responsible for COVID-19.

15 ( +24 / -9 )

Shame they don't complain about their despicable CCP who covered the whole thing up from the start and are human rights violators !!!

15 ( +20 / -5 )

Of course, Chinese athletes complain about prevention measures because Chinese vaccine do not protect them. I knew this kind of things would happen. Olympics should have been cancelled because it is very impossible to secure all athletes from coronavirus until end. Some people would go home with deadly coronavirus.

14 ( +24 / -10 )

Independently of who says anything, if there is truth to that then it should be investigated and corrected, organizers have done plenty of things in the wrong way, so it is not difficult to see how they are also botching the security and safety protocols this time.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

The Chinese team has got some nerve,based on the fact this whole pandemic started because of their country.

My thoughts exactly!

13 ( +32 / -19 )

Droll QuarryToday  06:57 am JST

The Hungary basketball team ( along with the Japanese team) is all the way down here in Okinawa and playing in full stadiums.

A bold declaration, but Okinawa has been under a state of emergency for a while (and will remain so until August 22), so Okinawa Arena is currently limited to 50% of its 10,000 spectator capacity.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

The WORLD is watching” and adversaries will seize the opportunity to exploit Japan’s shortcomings during this ‘staging of conspicuous GREED’.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

Of course the chinese will complain about anything to embarrass the host country. Put them in tents at the beach!

12 ( +21 / -9 )

I guess they're so used to the constant monitoring and limited freedom of speech and freedom that they don't know how to handle all the sudden freedoms they enjoy. How ironic

11 ( +38 / -27 )

It's too bad that the Chinese athletes feel that the measures in place in Japan for the pandemic their country tossed on the whole world isn't up to snuff. Besides, the only reason they came to Tokyo now is to help prevent of boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

11 ( +20 / -9 )

Just watch, next they'll be complaining about the slow internet speed at the hotel.

10 ( +25 / -15 )

With yesterday's positivity/infection rate in Tokyo being 23% and the previous days being an average of 12% all athletes especially any not vaccinated should be seriously worried!

10 ( +16 / -6 )

And the rest of the world is complaining at China for a lack of transparency on everything that has to do with the virus.

10 ( +20 / -10 )

Let's remember that this whole thing was started by the Chicoms in some lab in Wuhan.

9 ( +22 / -13 )

"The Chinese team lives on one floor, but mixing with tourists in the hotel is certainly a hidden danger," Zhang Xiaodong, head of the Chinese Sailing Association, told state-run Xinhua news agency on Sunday. "We are consulting with the Organizing Committee on this issue."

So they have their own floor, but are still complaining. Perhaps China should have bought the entire hotel.

9 ( +18 / -9 )

Oh, no! The shock and outrage of the Chinese team!

This really deserves a "gunshots meme".

8 ( +19 / -11 )

"The Chinese team lives on one floor, but mixing with tourists in the hotel is certainly a hidden danger," Zhang Xiaodong, head of the Chinese Sailing Association, told state-run Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

Good God people, it's a simple statement. So if that's the case, anyone on here voicing their negative opinions of the J-Gov should just go back to their own country too then.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

I guess they're so used to the constant monitoring and limited freedom of speech and freedom that they don't know how to handle all the sudden freedoms they enjoy. How ironic *

They sure seem to enjoy the freedom to complain though

7 ( +27 / -20 )

lets face it, the Japanese are hopelessly naive about how foreigners will behave here. They expect them to follow rules just as Japanese would. But foreigners aren’t wired that way. It’s gonna be a nightmare

7 ( +27 / -20 )

In Japan, at least they're allowed to complain....

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Forgive me, but when it comes to the Wuhan-sourced Chinese Coronavirus and "lax measures", China and the Chinese have ZERO to complain about!

It is WE who should be doing the complaining. Look at what the incompetent cover-up artists in the Chinese Communist Party have done to the world and then reflect.

7 ( +17 / -10 )

The Australian Women's Soccer Team, arrived in Nara, yesterday. Nearby Shin-Omiya Station. And is booked at a local hotel. Which also has a bevy of tourists - unavoidable in any of the common areas - let alone interaction with staff. When I see them walking around in Nara, that will, so-to-speak, tell the tale about the anemic and absurd pretense athletes are squired away from the public.

To which I add: the U.S. Women's soccer team is in Kyushu. As is the Irish boxing team.

How is any of this within the protocols set to diminish the spread of SARSCoV-2?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Yeah, that’s gunna go down really well. Where did this virus originate from again? Or are we not allowed to mention that hear too?

They just can’t help but have a dig can they? ‘Send them home’, will be the sentiment when pretty much anyone reads this. Great way to start the Boycott China 2022 movement too. See how this stuff works?

Do yourselves a favor Chinese athletes and zip it ay?

6 ( +18 / -12 )

They sure seem to enjoy the freedom to complain though

Wonder if they will post those complaints on their Facebook or twitter or Signal accounts with photos?

Guess we have an idea about the Winter Olympics and lockdowns there.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Why don't they just rent out the entire hotel? That is what baller countries due.

Who in their right mind only rents out one floor, you would think a sailing team would just live on huge cruiser or sailboat, anchor outside the training grounds and row into the competition with a little dingy or something.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Are all Chinese people bad people and responsible for the Corona virus? Some of the comments here are so terrible. I see so much hate in them. Not all Chinese are bad. The Gov maybe but come on, there are many decent Chinese from China too. If you were in their shoes, of course you would be concerned. Who wants to get the virus?

Everyone knows how lax Japan is, people coming back from overseas will tell you all the stories. I don't need to repeat them. Come on people, these athletes could be just like everyone else afraid about the virus.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

In another article it is written Japan is doing verything to have high measurements during Olympic games. But I partly agree with that Japan is not doing much. Official lock down has never exist and already 4th state of emergency. Even TV news is broadcasting that people go drinking outside without wearing mask and talk loutly.

Signs mention not more than an X amount of people inside are ignored, trains are full.

5 ( +19 / -14 )

Hmmm, let’s see now…who’s country Infected the World with a Virus ..?

5 ( +14 / -9 )

I doubt that they are forced to come here, to stay longer or even to compete at the games. They are even in China free to put chips into phones or batteries into e-cars instead, or aren’t they?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

what ironic!

4 ( +21 / -17 )

You have to understand the fear of Chinese athletes; they received Chinese vaccines which are virtually useless and can't stop infection, only reduce the chance of death.

Any athlete who tests positive for COVID is immediately quarantined and that's the end of their Olympic run.

4 ( +14 / -10 )

last week I saw a parked couch with 10+ thin athletic Africans heading to a budget hotel here in Kobe, which is open to the general public. I wish I had asked them if they were Olympians.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Albert

In another article it is written Japan is doing verything to have high measurements during Olympic games. But I partly agree with that Japan is not doing much. Official lock down has never exist and already 4th state of emergency. Even TV news is broadcasting that people go drinking outside without wearing mask and talk loutly.

Signs mention not more than an X amount of people inside are ignored, trains are full.

I agree. I think that in Japan, compared to other countries, there is genuinely a difference of interpretation or conception, of what really are 'sufficient' or 'high' measures against the virus. Based on what I've witnessed for nearly 2 years now (in addition to an endless amount of news articles, tv programs, etc), people & businesses here seem to genuinely think that what they're doing is "enough" to protect from the virus: sufficient physical distance is around 20cm here, wearing the same and the one mask on your face (or your chin) for the whole day is somehow acceptable, quickly rinsing your hands in mere water after going to the toilet is somehow enough, etc. People around me keep on nodding their heads and saying in a serious, solemn tone, that "we need to be cautious and follow thorough preventative measures" - right before gathering together, side by side, either for a face to face meeting (that could've happened online), or to eat lunch together, or to meet other moms with their maskless kids at a playground, etc.

I'm also shaking my head to all the comments bashing the Chinese athletes just because they happen to be Chinese. If you're American, and your government does something questionable (there are numerous examples of this), would it be ok to label all of you under the same umbrella, and say you're all at fault? That since you're American, you automatically represent everything that comes out from there, that you automatically have the same opinions and agenda as, e.g. your president? If your country does something wrong, are you not allowed to say comments that are of the opposite view point?

These athletes have nothing to do with any labs or any possible cover-ups. If they spot a breach in the safety measures, then they are most definitely allowed to voice it out, and I applaud them for doing so.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Not a good sign when the Chinese start complaining about lax safety precautions. They may have started the pandemic but they are right in their criticism of Japanese safety protocols.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Cheers! They created the virus but still get to complain?

3 ( +22 / -19 )

What a nerve ! I'll say no more.

3 ( +19 / -16 )

They may be more likely to be asymptomatic and in little danger of getting seriously ill 

Not even that, for professional athletes a big competition means pushing to their limits and it is well known that they are at a higher risk of infections and complications because of this. Getting COVID can mean serious complications because of this temporary state of immune deficiency.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Is this a joke or what? The Chinese athletes and other foreign athletes were all over Katase Enoshima yesterday maskless and very loud.

Totally breaking all rules of the road, sidewalks, and just common courtesy. Skateboarding, rollerblading, and biking. They ship their bikes in the containers that they ship their sailboats and gears in.

They wear their Olympic passes around their necks so they can go in and out of the gates at the sailing pavilion.

I find it shocking that they are complaining. Will find it amusing when they find out almost 100% of the restaurants on the island there are cash only, and they try to use their phone or cards to pay.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Its political.

China can’t look at something Japan does without calling us out or trying to make it look bad.

2 ( +32 / -30 )

What country started the pandemic in the first place that has ruined lives of millions around the world? If the Chinese team aren’t happy about the anti-infection measures here, go back where they come from.

2 ( +29 / -27 )

@CrashTestDummyToday

It is not realistic to keep the Olympic athletes in a bubble like they claimed. The athletes should know that. Also, if they are vaccinated athletes, then they should not care if they are around other unvaccinated or vaccinated people as they are protected against the virus.

That's not exactly how a vaccine works. It doesn't protect you 100% from the virus, you can still catch it and you can still transmit it to other people (albeit at a lower probability). What a vaccine does, is reduce the virus impact, i.e. the severity of any illness that might result from the infection, since your body can now fight it more efficiently.

So if there are not in a bubble, they can still catch it and test positive which would prevent them from competing.

Despite one might think about China, the athletes make a valid point.

2 ( +13 / -11 )

After hearing this, I just assume the opposite is true since China lies about every single thing. It’s almost laughable, but yet just pathetic.

Especially when those lies make other people look bad. Typical characteristics of insecure people that are likely not even going to win a medal.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

What a way to treat guests???

2 ( +6 / -4 )

All the complaining about Chinese athletes complain makes no goddamn sense. It's not like the athletes personally started spreading COVID and encouraged the CCP to cover it up. By that weird logic we should also be criticizing the Chinese doctors who tried to speak out about the virus early on but were silenced.

I swear after one year of staying indoors people have done away with all pretense of civility and decided they don't have the patience or the ability to separate "China" and "the CCP" from "Chinese people."

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Dozens of knee jerk deflections along the lines of 'but China ...'. So predictable but so irrelevant.

The Olympics are a (multi-billion dollar) business. The national teams signed their contract with the organisers. In return, considering the IOC is set to walk away with billion$, they expect the organisers to discharge their duty of care. After all, they have been trumpeting their 'playbooks', with their multiple versions and updates and addendums and addumbdowns. So, like anyone in a business relationship, specially one where the athletes have no doubt been training and sacrificing since they were small children to get on the team, and their future life prospects also hinge on them bringing some glory to their team, they expect the organisers to follow their part of the deal, and not create risks that could throw all those years of training down the tubes over a couple of weeks.

That is business, companies would get taken to the cleaners if they didn't honour their contracts, why should it be any different for the organisers.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Segregation in the elevators might help?

1 ( +10 / -9 )

One thing we know, is that if any of these Chinese athletes test positive for Covid in 2, 3 or 4 weeks from now, the headlines will be "Chinese athletes test positive".

There will be no mention that the only way they could have gotten covid was locally.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Japan’s approach seems to be to put bottles of alcohol and disinfectant out everywhere, despite the fact that it travels through the air and do temperature checks even though fewer than 40% of people with it have a fever, and many are asymptomatic, anyway.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Judging by some of the comments here, it's exactly the reason, why the world has so many problems, in so much difficulty today.

Everything is politicised.

Some people should stopped trying to be too smart, and, the World will be a better place.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I must admit I thought the remote events would have had a local hotel / resort allocated as an Olympic Village for all competitors. Obviously I was wrong.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

We often hear about athletes testing positive, but I haven't noticed anything about them actually getting sick...

I wonder how common it is for them getting sick. Except of course for athletes like sumo wrestlers, for obvious reasons....

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The sudden influx of all these furriners, the return to semi normality in the entertainment districts, the low vaccination rate, crowded trains, the mother of all variants lurking in the wings. Given those perfect conditions, if case numbers don’t go through the roof, they’ll be hard pressed trying to keep their story straight.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

They're not "guests". They're...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Oh - Lets believe the Chinese Athletes who will have been told to say this , Regardless.

-2 ( +19 / -21 )

We often hear about athletes testing positive, but I haven't noticed anything about them actually getting sick...

That may be because people tend to avoid searching for information that contradicts personal beliefs, risk of myocarditis in athletes for example, has been well recognized in publications directed to medical and scientific professionals.

https://www.jwatch.org/na53704/2021/06/04/covid-19-myocarditis-athletes

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"Maskless and speaking loudly. Good job on safety measures Japan."

and is it Japan's fault that some foreigners are being inconsiderate or is it the foreigners fault?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"We are consulting with the Organizing Committee on this issue."

As any team has the right to do when they fell that an issue has arisen. And let’s face it the disorganised committee will be flooded with Consulting many teams. As they retroactively scramble to to what should have been organised 2~5 years ago.

-3 ( +12 / -15 )

Clearly they are correct

Athletes from certain countries (China, Australia among others) are very unlikely to have the virus and to spread the virus to Japanese people and have a far far bigger risk of actually catching the virus from a Japanese person they come in contact with.These lax bubbles are a real danger to them and a complete joke to the concept of a safe Olympics and the the Olympic COVID safe measures.

Expect the stories after the Olympics of athletes returning to their home countries who were COVID free on departure returning with the virus acquired in Japan at the games. Being vaccinated does not at all stop people catching the virus. Some people need to get over this myth. They may be more likely to be asymptomatic and in little danger of getting seriously ill but they still get it and compulsory testing will find some asymprotmatics for sure.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

"The Chinese team lives on one floor, but mixing with tourists in the hotel is certainly a hidden danger,"

Firstly, what more do they want than a floor for themselves, and secondly, haven't they all gotten their Sinovax and thus are supposedly safe? I thought the CCP was bragging that they had defeated Corona.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

"Japan’s approach seems to be to put bottles of alcohol and disinfectant out everywhere,"

Because:

The best way to prevent the spread of infections and decrease the risk of getting sick is by washing your hands with plain soap and water, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose. If soap and water are not available, CDC recommends consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

"despite the fact that it travels through the air"

True, and that is why everyone is wearing masks in Japan.

"and do temperature checks even though fewer than 40% of peoplewith it have a fever, and many are asymptomatic, anyway."

Tempeature Checks are used as package of Anti covid measures. The anti covid measures are:

1) hand sanitizer

2) face masks

3) Temperature checks.

4) Social distance.

Sounds like Japan is getting it right.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

 The Hungary basketball team ( along with the Japanese team) is all the way down here in Okinawa and playing in full stadiums.

They arent the only one's! The French men's volleyball team is here, along with others as well.

No mention of any quarantining, preventive measures, nothing!

But this is probably the main reason Suga decided to extend Okinawa's state of emergency too!

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Agreed, @thepersoniamnow 7:24am, “Its political.”

- “China can’t look at something Japan does without calling us out or trying to make it look bad.”

However in all fairness, the J-TV Sunday news & commentary shows, those biweekly “Unbelievable” VTR/YouTube recaps and various other ‘creative(?)’ outlets also LOVE to create ‘deformed caricatures of foreigners’, offensively mimic their voices during ‘exaggerated’ translations and parody their ‘perceived’ shortcomings of different cultures … and Politics.

-6 ( +9 / -15 )

I am usually in disagreement with China and the CCP rethoric,of course this statement is partially political but this time it has some credible foundations.

Knowing how Japan handled in an amateurish way the situation with the Diamond Princess.

-6 ( +12 / -18 )

"Chinese athletes complain about lax virus measures at Tokyo Olympics hotel"

They are lucky. In China, a hotel just collapsed. I don't think we are going to hear any more complaints from the Chinese.

China hotel collapse kills eight; rescuers search for nine missing

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-hotel-collapse-kills-eight-rescuers-search-nine-missing-2021-07-13/

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Are they right or are they wrong?

-7 ( +12 / -19 )

ossanamerika:

It's too bad that the Chinese athletes feel that the measures in place in Japan for the pandemic their country tossed on the whole world isn't up to snuff.

Oh, so now are you suggesting the Chinese athletes are to blame for the pandemic? Just because of their nationality, are they supposed to just suck it up? Your loser of an ex-president is responsible for countless deaths, so please, don't take the higher moral ground.

-9 ( +8 / -17 )

seren:

In Japan, at least they're allowed to complain....

Yeah, but the government doesn't care. Hence, the games must go on.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

It is not realistic to keep the Olympic athletes in a bubble like they claimed. The athletes should know that. Also, if they are vaccinated athletes, then they should not care if they are around other unvaccinated or vaccinated people as they are protected against the virus.

-14 ( +12 / -26 )

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