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tokyo 2020 olympics

Olympics may bring more risks than economic benefits for Japan

43 Comments
By Noriyuki Suzuki

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43 Comments
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May bring Risks”?!?! - The economic damage to the Tax-payers is already done.

26 ( +29 / -3 )

Really? I’m shocked. The spectators are just going to go drinking all night afterwards in Shibuya or Roppongi and spread the virus that way. Idiots.

22 ( +24 / -2 )

Does it matter, really?

I think it's been proven many times already that the Games are for the economic benefit of the happy few rather than that of the host country.

And I'm not talking about Tokyo 2020 only.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

Suga lost all credibility as a leader months ago, and no one seems to be even trying to challenge him.

Yeah, I would say the risks outweigh the benefits of this government's policy to pursue Olympics over vaccine rollout.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Then again, the problem is that the economic losses are for the population at large, while the benefits are for a selected few. That would explain why the games are still going on.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

This also depends on how “risk” is defined.

For the IOC and LDP, “a sharp rise in infections” isn’t a risk, because a “risk” implies that you personally care whether it happens or not.

I doubt there is a single person in either of the aforementioned groups who thinks of “risk” in terms of anything other than personal gain.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

But some economists have raised a red flag that the economy could receive a heavy blow, rather than a boon, from the once-postponed Olympics depending on whether Japan can keep the spread of the virus in check.

This is like the moment when the grifter in a pyramid/ponzi scheme tells the mark:"You know all those gains you were supposed to make? They're not happening. You might even end up losing a bit. Well, that's the way it goes. Better luck next time!Got to go!"

There only ever was going to be gains for Dentsu, the IOC, sponsors, hotel owners even before the pandemic. For most people the Olympics was only ever going to mean a more crowded commute and some extra shifts of work.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

"May?" The "risks" started, not maybe, when it was decided to actually hold the games!

10 ( +14 / -4 )

I think its been common knowledge that the modern Olympics operate at a loss and rarely is there any long term economic benefit. The Vancouver/Whistler Olympics was a benefit to those who owned real estate in the area while Rio's Olympics left most of its residence with nothing but a huge bill. Even with spectators, the 2020 Olympics would benefit a few large companies, but the tax payer will be left with the bill.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Olympics may bring more risks than economic benefits for Japan

This kind of insight is why those analysts from Daiwa and Nomura get paid the big yen.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Olympics may bring more risks than economic benefits for Japan

Duh!

I think the economic benefits are a myth. As for the risks, well....

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Drinking alone when out or at home smacks of a drinking problem. The pandemic is a good time to go on the wagon. People act less responsibly with booze inside them, so if crowds are to be at Olympic super spreading events, then banning alcohol makes total sense.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

I think the author mispelt will in their title. It's not spelt "may" but w-i-l-l.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

well, that is a surprise..... another of my dreams shattered! (ー△ー;)

6 ( +11 / -5 )

And Noriyuki kun is now jut figuring this out?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

IOC = In Our Coffers.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

There's going to be a veritable tsunami of these propaganda articles claiming the Olympics is a roaring success over the next three months. People will just have to get used to them.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

The 'Games' ". . . may bring more risks than economic benefits . . ."? Who knew? Except for anyone at all with a brain and no vested interests.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I like the Asahi advertisement ‘cleverly’ inserted into the article.

This is akin to the product placement which can be seen in TV shows and films.

The third paragraph is the kicker.

The Japanese beer maker had initially planned to provide its "Super Dry" beer at venues and related facilities.

As the impact of the pandemic ligers, Japanese beer makers have been seeking to meet demand for drinking at home.

Asahi, for its part, has launched a subscription service for beer servers and a smash-hit "Super Dry" canned beer that, like a draft beer, creates a head when the top of the can is removed.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Duh........

5 ( +8 / -3 )

There has to be an award out there for the headline that is most likely to elicit sarcastic comments feigning shock due to how stunningly obvious it is. This article’s would win hands down.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

In other breaking news:

Night follows day and is darker!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Then again, the problem is that the economic losses are for the population at large, while the benefits are for a selected few. That would explain why the games are still going on.

Right on. The old "Socialize the losses, privatize the profits" grift. Very popular with business and government nowadays.

The pandemic is just bringing a little extra suffering for the public this time when the bill comes due.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

A lot of reports are coming out like this recently.

It's as if all these olympic and government officials finally learned how to read, or stopped sleeping at meetings all of a sudden.

Welcome to the world of stuff the mass majority of the Japanese population knew months ago.

Well, less than one month to go, geniuses. What's next?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

You'd almost think this was the first time an Olympics was ever held and they have never had anything to go on before. Guarantee the day after the Olympics is done Suga talks about dissolving the Lower House (before the increase in infection becomes notable) and starts saying we simply have no choice but to talk about increasing consumer tax to 15% and cutting back on social welfare costs -- and it will be to cover the costs of the Olympics.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

May bring more risks? Duh, now how is that so???

2 ( +3 / -1 )

We don't need economists to tell us that. The fact is right in front yet they want to move ahead. Of course more risk than benefits. Olympics has already become a burden for all. The most suffered ones are healthcare people.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Understandable that they won't be selling booze at the games but not good for sponsors Asahi. Sadly for them, it's going to be a super dry Olympics.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Again, using MAY in a headline is not sincere. They could use MAY NOT and it would mean the same thing. Sensationalism based on conjecture.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Olympics and economic benefits just don't go together unless you put IOC in the sentence as in "Olympics, IOC economic benefits"

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Under that scenario, the economic benefits would decrease to 1.66 trillion yen, or 91.9 percent of what a full-scale games would generate,

I bet this calculation includes an assumption along the lines of "prestige of Japan" or "Japan branding" = 1.5 trillion yen positive effect. It is no different to the 1960s calculations used to justify bridges, expressways, and tunnels to nowhere in the provinces.

Any benefit based on measurable spending will be vastly exceeded by the cost to the taxpayer.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Stupid as I am, I wouldn’t have to come to this obvious conclusion. Good, that someone else has. lol

1 ( +3 / -2 )

DUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH........

1 ( +2 / -1 )

No spectators is still 91% of the revenue? No wonder they are pushing for it to go through.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I tend to agree with the Article Title, this time

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Economic risks. That's a quaint notion.

Form JT Headlines:

Australia: Sydney and Melbourne in covid lockdown.

India and five other countries will require increased vigilance concerning SARSCoV-2 inoculations.

Imagine that. And, still those countries will be sending Olympic teams to Japan! How's that for economic planning?

One might ponder such in light of the rather 'mental' intent to hold The Olympics during a pandemic and the notion it is okay to have spectators of any kind.

As for the economic impacts. Imagine there was never any plan to have the Olympics. What would the economy look like?

Imagine a super-spreader event that allows the introduction en masse of a variant that travels like wildfire among the peoples of Japan - introduced by a foreign source.

Recall January, 2020. When a busload of tourists from Wuhan introduced the SARSCoV-2 virus to the driver and the attendant. Here we are 18 months later in the midst of a contagion.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

As the impact of the pandemic ligers, ...

Not quite sure how you 'liger', but a quick shufti at case rates around the world shows it is not 'lingering'. And as long as global vaccination rates are as patchy as they are, it's just a tidal thing. In fact, talking about the impact 'lingering' is like standing on the seashore in Tohoku at 3.30pm and saying the 'high tides' are 'lingering'.

Japan may think it is 'different', but just because waves on the graph look okay at one point, it should remember how fast things can change again for the worse. Our global experience over the last 18 months shows us that when either government incompetence, stubborn stupidity or malice drive a country's policies, then even a partly controlled rise can become a surge in a few weeks. Just take a look at the tragedies unfolding in places like S Africa and Uganda, Colombia, Afghanistan ...

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Let me take a guess - a panel of experts. This was to be expected ever since foreign Olympic visitors were restricted or banned from entering the country. We've had the coronavirus here for a year and a half. During that time, the leaders in the functions may have realised this. Instead, they are constantly discussing and debating, theorising, thinking about what to do and how to do it, and our money is being wasted on all this. Every day there is another meeting and what was discussed before is discussed. They didn't discover anything new. They're just doing pretend work to justify the money they're spending.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So basically they are allowing visitors to events but can cancel it with another state of emergency ? Do you see it coming ? They gonna cash out the tickets money and will not refund it when they will announce another SOE.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Olympics will probably bring more risks than economic benefits for Japan. There, I fixed the title for you. That was even my super optimistic side opinion.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I understand that there are many challenges, but it seems that Japan is doing what is necessary to hold the games safely. Meanwhile, I will be enjoying them on the Tele.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

We'll know soon enough if govt decides having spectators will be more beneficial or less and if they will decide against having them. It's not final til the games start

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

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