tokyo 2020 olympics

Infectious disease expert eyes Olympics with excitement, concern

29 Comments
By Hiroshi Hiyama

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Every measures such as quarantine or isolation, or "bubble" system are already under dysfunction in the shade of politics that Japan's PM or authorities repeat "safe and secure" and fabricates social atmosphere as if holding Olympics is unavoidable.

It is not clear even where is responsible as same as nuclear policy of Japan.

"Olympics excitement" that kill people has no value.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

As the first athletes start arriving, Hamada says the Games must "be done in a way that will not bring the virus and variants to Japan."

News flash, the virus and its variants are already in Japan!

Most ordinary people, Japanese and foreigners flowing in every day, are tested once on arrival and that's it. But these Olympians who will mostly be in a bubble must be super spreaders!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's just been brought to my notice that the 22nd and 23rd of July have been made public holidays on account of the Olympics. The 22nd is a Thursday, making it a 4-day holiday for many.In addition Sports Day, usually in October, has been moved this year to the 8th August to mark the Closing Ceremony and providing folk with a 3-day weekend.

I wish it made a difference to me, but ever since the pandemic started and I've been working mostly at home, everyday has been the same. Work. I can't even tell the difference between weekdays and weekends.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Every single press conference and group that gathers for check-in to a hotel or accomodation is a chance for virus to spread, and spread it will among those not vaccinated. Every time our collective attention is focused on some famous person passing or running (in a footrace, for example) there is a risk of someone letting their guard down, not wearing a mask properly, not wiping down a taxi with alcohol fast enough, etc. It's human nature and the virus takes advantage. We have plenty of warnings, most recently the G-7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K. caused the local infection rate to shoot up 20 times, and is now being called a superspreader event! https://inews.co.uk/news/g7-summit-was-super-spreading-event-for-cornwall-as-cases-rocket-2450-after-johnson-and-biden-visit-1060710?fbclid=IwAR3dmPEHXkZ9Mx0wxp3qQkwXmG9TJM0-6nmudMtYdJv7EKhPeaeKy2joFxw

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It's just been brought to my notice that the 22nd and 23rd of July have been made public holidays on account of the Olympics. The 22nd is a Thursday, making it a 4-day holiday for many.

In addition Sports Day, usually in October, has been moved this year to the 8th August to mark the Closing Ceremony and providing folk with a 3-day weekend.

Public holidays have been moved as follows:

海の日 Sea day moved from 7/19 to 7/22.

山の日 Mountain day moved from 8/11 to 8/8.

スポーツ日 Sport day moved from 10/11 to 7/23.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Just sue them all and detain IOC staff in prison until they can win their court case with no bail.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

As the first athletes start arriving, Hamada says the Games must "be done in a way that will not bring the virus and variants to Japan."

But athletes have been already arriving with the virus.

When this happens more and more then Japanese people will see foreigners (once again) as vectors for the disease.

An unhappy result!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The best thing is to ask the public to stay home and watch the Olympics on TV,

It's just been brought to my notice that the 22nd and 23rd of July have been made public holidays on account of the Olympics. The 22nd is a Thursday, making it a 4-day holiday for many.

In addition Sports Day, usually in October, has been moved this year to the 8th August to mark the Closing Ceremony and providing folk with a 3-day weekend.

How many folk, who want the Olympics cancelled anyway, are going to take advantage of the holidays to get out of Tokyo and away from the Olympic madness?

And taking the Tokyo virus with them to tourist spots and rural home towns.

Sounds to me like the Go To Infection fiasco all over again.

anshin-anzen my old Aunt Sally.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Suga is gambling on an anshin-anzen (zzz) Olympics to gain a much-needed boost in the polls.

And that, folks, is all that really matters.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The government ignoring the high % of people who are against having the Olympics at this time isn't surprising.

When a dam was set to be build back in the 90s, somewhere around 97% of the residents opposed it but it was still built.

In the 2000s, a poll showed 92% opposed building the superfluous Kobe Airport but once again it was built regardless. Anyone's who's used this airport knows there are very few flights. A boring place to take your kids to see the planes land and take-off.

It's time for a revolution.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If the govt were to listen to the polls what should they do, cancel or postpone?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@JeffLee

Probably looking too much into it, English signs are a better way to get international coverage if you want it. For example, this very site. It's not really about domestic awareness because they already have that.

We've seen time and time again that Japan cares way more about the opinion of other countries over domestic opinions (given that 80%+ domestic disapproval doesn't make the government budge), so getting international pressure involved may be a smart move. A bunch of signs in Japanese simply won't make an eye-catching photo-op for journalists.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

As for the photo, why are at least half the angry signs in English, in country where about 5% of the population actually understand the language?

It's your problem Japan. You created it, you stubbornly sustained it, and so you deal with it, and leave the foreigners alone.

In nearly every country regardless of the local language, when a protest is held and those protesting want more people to hear them, one will find English signs explaining the protest.

Perhaps you are seeing something that is not there?

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Wow! The Olympics! Cancel them!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Organizers have sought to reassure an anxious public with tough countermeasures. Athletes will be tested daily, and are Organizers have sought to reassure an anxious public with tough countermeasures. Athletes will be tested daily, and are banned from going anywhere but the Olympic village and their competition venues.

They can only enter the village shortly before their events and must leave within 48 hours of their discipline ending. 

It seems contradictory.

If they only enter just shortly before they compete and leave within 48 hours after, then they are NOT

banned from going anywhere but the Olympic village and their competition venues.

As they will be coming to the village from some other location they are being housed at and returning their after leaving the village.

Which BTW is the normal procedure for every Olympic in the past. Other than testing them the rest is standard.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

That poster says it all.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

As for the photo, why are at least half the angry signs in English, in country where about 5% of the population actually understand the language?

NBC seems to be the Japanese protesters' big bogeyman, based on many of the signs, who guy calling them "murderers." That's odd, since NBC contributed about 4 billion dollars, possibly defraying the crushing cost to these angry Tokyo taxpayers, and promoting the idea of watching the events in the safety of one's home rather than in a crowded stadium.

 

It's your problem Japan. You created it, you stubbornly sustained it, and so you deal with it, and leave the foreigners alone.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Hamada and other medical experts worry that efforts to keep the Games safe, including regular testing and isolation of suspected cases, could add pressure to the country's medical system.

I don't imagine a situation where this is not the case, the organizers are betting in the medical system to be free of pressure from the pandemic so these very necessary resources would not be missed. That is a very dangerous bet to do.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

As the first athletes start arriving, Hamada says the Games must "be done in a way that will not bring the virus and variants to Japan."

Impossible! Already here!

6 ( +10 / -4 )

In the government’s pocket it seems.

public service announcement

Please disrupt your lives even further, stay home, reduce drinking alcohol, hide away, blah blah blah... what were we saying? Oh yes... Please ignore the fact that we’re hosting an international event at the same time... also please watch on TV! Let’s Olympics!

joker(s)

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Actually the number of athletes participating in the Opening and Closing ceremonies will be limited by this requirement: athletes can enter the Olympic Village only up to five days prior to their competition and they must depart within two days after completing their competition.

Really? Plenty of athletes have been filing into Japan over the past month, staying all over the place. Some have already tested positive.

Your comment that they can only enter the village "5 days prior to competition" is irrelevant, when most olympic visitors will be staying in dozens of various hotels, not the village.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Stable door, meet horse.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

A logical, rational *“expert on infectious diseases” can’t ”eye it with excitement”…*

… other than the anticipation to “study the further damage it may do to Japan.

He’s delusional! Once again, Japan should never again be a test area for WOMD’s on their people.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Organizers have sought to reassure an anxious public with tough countermeasures.

Excluding international entrants from quarantine, taking away condoms from the Olympic village and banning alcohol and advising spectators and media to go straight to events and return immediately (and please do not talk or cheer) are what they characterize as "tough"? Sound like typical LDP half-measure excuses.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Ok, then @Monty 6:50am. Sincerest apologies IF you were previously “misunderstood”.

Your comments above just highlight the “expert’s” indecision.

From Today forward, You’ve joined US, those that want to see the Games Cancelled, right?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The photo clearly reads *“Cancel the Tokyo Olympics”, not “excitement”. *

10 ( +13 / -3 )

They can only enter the village shortly before their events and must leave within 48 hours of their discipline ending. 

Actually the number of athletes participating in the Opening and Closing ceremonies will be limited by this requirement: athletes can enter the Olympic Village only up to five days prior to their competition and they must depart within two days after completing their competition.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

While ‘a rainbow of hope’ could have been a positive image here, the masked, disgruntled Japanese man with the “Cancel” placard says more.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

The best thing is to ask the public to stay home and watch the Olympics on TV,"

Another experts very clever comment...what an idiot!

In the worst-case scenario, a cancellation must be considered

Another very clever comment...

When the worst case scenario happened, it is too late to cancel.

You should cancel in advance to prevent the worst case scenario...what an idiot!

It will have to be done in a way that will not place extra burden on the medical system

Oh really?

And how?

...what an idiot!

But many of you guys here are big fans of these so called experts.

Here is one of them!

Listen to him...he seems to me like a big supporter of the games.

*
4 ( +13 / -9 )

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