Japan to start vaccinating Olympic athletes from June 1: JOC

What about my 90 year old mother in law?

So medieval.

Let the Shogun decide that you will not deserve to be treated as equal to healthy people, especially if you as a peasant are in need for health preservation.

What about my 74 year old in laws? When will they get the Vaccine? When it is to kaye and the Super Sprader Olympocs have already come and gone, and there is no ventilators or hospital beds amd we are foreced to keep them at home. Everyone in my house will get covid, and myself, my wife, my in laws will all die of covid, and my two children will grow up without parents, because the gov't decided to prioritize athletes over anyone else.

@Luddite

You got your answer.

She can die if all Japanese can participate and try to get medals, which are thus more important than life in the eyes of politicians.

Ad nauseum.

Vaccines are currently only available to medical workers and seniors aged 65 or over.

...and for Olympics Athlets and their staff!

I pray for you beloved family in need nothing bad will happen...

What about the rest of the population? I guess we are not important enough.

Considering it takes about 6 weeks to get full immunity they are cutting it fine. At this slow roll out rate the vaccine will expire and have to be thrown away.

Prefectures where patients die one after another due to cannot hospitalize are increasing in Japan.

But Japan's authorities prioritize to protect Olympians than defending general citizen.

My in laws: both in their 80s will get their first shot in July.

Knowing that how can these people look in the mirror and be proud of or like the face they see.

Suga said he is not putting the Olympics ahead of the Japanese citizens? My Japanese in laws call BS on this and I’m in agreement with them.

Can japans international image get any worse. You bet it can!

Hahaha! Today's pronouncement is another classic.

Teachers, Waiting staff, Train conductors, care givers and shop staff etc.etc. can all just wait for their dose of Covid. Good sense of priorities.

The athletes cannot dig your economy out from the gutter, only the general population can do that; but they can't do that if they, die or have debilitating after-effects.

Japan to start vaccinating Olympic athletes from June 1: JOC

Next week vaccines for VIP will be started.

Olympic will lift the spirit of us all!

The voluntary mass vaccination will give Japanese Olympians time to be fully vaccinated before the games open on July 23

Voluntary? Pure comedy.

BTW, Vietnam thanks Japan for the explosion of cases there. More than 100 people cleared of China virus the day before they departed Japan returned positive in separate tests done immediately upon arrival in Vietnam. Not only is the testing stuffed in Japan, but a lot of it are producing false negatives. Don't trust the jgov on anything they say.

Economists are now saying that the losses from canceling the Olympics would be less than those accruing from yet another SOE if they turn into a super-spreader event:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/japan-s-losses-from-covid-19-curbs-to-dwarf-olympics-no-go-fallout--says-economist-14882044#.YKy827jE_Xt.twitter

Whereas Dick Pounds says that "Even if PM Suga cancels the Olympics, we're still going to hold it."

https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/45703

What? Can they just do that?

Vote the LDP Shogunate OUT!!

Words fail me.

Back in April they denied considering any such thing.

Meanwhile my 95-year-old MiL is still waiting to be allowed to apply for a jab.

I hope voters remember this at the next election, and throw the LDP out on their lying ears.

Vote the LDP Shogunate OUT!!

Sadly this is far easier said than done. The people here vote for their local candidate, who never does anything wrong, and fail to see them as a part of the group.

The only thing that would truly work, in my opinion, is to have to position of prime minister, be voted on, by the entire country, and not by the party in power.

Never going to happen, but one can dream!

This is how they care about their own people,and of course expats are at the bottom of the chain.

I wonder how many expats living in Japan after all what is happening regretted to choose to make their life in such a country.

Good old Japan and its priorities... and didn't the government say this was NOT the case when rumours about it started a couple of months ago?

Just read Alfie’s link.

What an arrogant, tone-deaf piece of entitled work that Pound is.

According to him, it’s a pity (but not a problem) that the Japanese public are against the games being held. They’re only against it, he says, because they’re ‘ignoring the science’ (ignorant plebs) and once the medals start coming in they’ll be perfectly happy.

And it don’t matter if they aren’t, cuz it’s happening anyways and there’s nothing they can do about it.

So every complication and death from the middle of June of someone in the vulnerable population that could not get vaccinated and got COVID can be said to be because an athlete was immunized instead of the victim.

Athletes should be vaccinated if Olympics is held. They must not infect others.

Expect the vaccination of the athletes to be finished just in time for the 2024 olympics....

The games of the Circus Maximus (Olympics) must be held!

The Senate and Emperor ( Jgov and IOC) must distract the peasants ( the Japanese people) from the government's ineptitude in fighting the barbarians ( virus).

So oil down the gladiators ( vaccinate the Athletes) and let the games begin.

The provinces ( the world) are burning as Barbarian hordes ( virus variants) multiply and increase daily.

The games must go on, the Emperor ( IOC) has made his (it's) decree and the Senate ( Jgov) in fear of Imperial reprisals and of it's ineptitude to protect the people has bowed to the will of the emperor (IOC).

Hey, I'm an Olympic athlete, vaccinate me!

Olympics are administering the vaccines, but you guys can pretend they are “skipping to the front of the line” because it makes you feel better.

Olympic athletes, and coaches should feel guilty about taking vaccines that should be used for high risk people instead.

I will never look at an olympian or coach the same way again.

They disgust me.

you guys can pretend they are “skipping to the front of the line” because it makes you feel better.

Not pretending, they are skipping to the front of the line (jumping the queue) and it doesn’t make me feel better, it makes me feel livid.

The Lords of the Rings at the IOC, Tokyo Organising Commitee, Government of Japan, and other members of the 'Olympic village' will be responsible for any excess deaths of Japan residents who were unable to be vaccinated, got infected and died. That will be the real cost of these 'Games'.

It took 30 years to pay off the Montreal Olympics debt.

Tokyo Olympics will take longer, no revenue from ticket sales as spectators will hopefully be banned, no income from the expected tourism, skyrocketing cost from more and more special measures to create the inept bubble.

But one cost Montreal did not have but Tokyo will is the loss of lives ( Japanese lives) due to the Jgov ignoring the pandemic.

Well at least Montreal will no longer have the honor of being the most inept, corrupt international sports event in history, that tittle will now be held by Tokyo!

What about MY vaccination? I'm 71 years old, with health issues that come with age, and there's no sign of me being graced with a shot, none for my Type 1 diabetes suffering wife either. Suga, the incompetent leader of the incompetents in charge, got HIS as soon as they were available. Now the athletes scheduled to take part in the games that 80% of people here don't want; they get theirs too. The one-party political system here means that Suga and his mob can get away with whatever they want, and the people have NO voice.

Considering it takes about 6 weeks to get full immunity they are cutting it fine. At this slow roll out rate the vaccine will expire and have to be thrown away.

No. It takes up to four weeks after the second dose. Which makes it two months, providing no serious side effects.

Vaccination does not stop spreading. Especially Brazilian, Indian and UK type 2.

vaccines should be for over 60yrs, preferably Sputnik V

Vaccinating Definitely No pratfall takes place with no booking for the Olympic Athletes, Coaches immediately When arrive in Japan !!

Sounds treating too many athletes , coaches like ride on a pram .

They’ rigidly protected different from general people deal away !!

Utterly has to say unfair !!

Give a special treatment too much !!

If he or she Olympic Relatives could be VIP and soon vaccinate who come down to Japan .

It seems to me IOC will never cancel the Olympics and Japan just follow the IOC's decision even if Japan wants to cancel it. Japan will have to pay billions of dollars/yen to IOC if Japan said cancellation first. So the Olympics is held as schedule, so athletes better be vaccinated soon.

Says who? I mean I know that's what the contract says, but what jurisdiction decides this if Japan refuses to pay? United Nations?

It is a contract between IOC and Japan JOC. So Japan can't stop/cancel it easily. Most people don't not know it even Suga probably. Japan doesn't refuse because of the Olympic contract.

If it's any consolation vaccination for Japan's athletes seem to be late also compared to athletes of other countries

It is a contract between IOC and Japan JOC. So Japan can't stop/cancel it easily. Most people don't not know it even Suga probably. Japan doesn't refuse because of the Olympic contract.

There are 2 possibilities to jurisdiction in any contractual dispute.

Mostly possiblity is the Japanese legal system. If this is so then Japan can cancel as long as they don't during a state of emergency.

Japanese courts in such cases have nullified contracts previously do to SOE ( Force Majeure) clause or no clause.

If the jurisdiction is outside Japan then again it is not a problem as no court outside Japan could ever enforce any ruling if one were to go against Japan.

Basically Japan could tell the IOC to put it where the sun never reaches.

The Olympics will go ahead and it will be safe..... Can you handle that? ? ?

The only acceptable view on JT is bash the government, give a pass to IOC, ignore America's support for the Olympics, ignore the experts who have approved the go ahead on this issue.

"Cutting in line to give Olympic people the vaccine before their turn"

Check!

That's number 500 for those who are counting. 500 things the Olympics has done to make everyone super pissed off at the Olympics and hate it on a visceral level that is difficult to describe in words.

I'm so mad all I can do is laugh at the sheer spectacle at this point.

@Antiquesaving

That baron von ripper-off will never listen/negotiate with Japan about it. If Olympics is cancelled, IOC will lose a lot of money from NBC broadcaster and other foreign corporations. That's why Japan have to pay a lot instead. Olympics have never been cancelled by virus pandemic in the past. All host countries have made/make such contract ever. Japan would never have host of Olympics any more in the future if it refused to pay/run from payment.

Unfortunately it looks more and more like they will happen as the IOC sees no danger to them.

The IOC has picked up the playbook from other psychopathic leaders and used it well in Hokkaido.

Declare everything was fine only 1 positive case and they dealt with it no problem.

And like Hokkaido the surge of new cases of covid in the population will come 10 to 14 days later long after the IOC leadership has fled Japan long after they officially declared it all safe and over.

This is why they didn't care and are not worried.

No surge will happen during the games that comes weeks later and they will deny any connection to the games.

it's too late, they have no idea what they're doing. Always extending dates, it's just a canard

Japan would never have host of Olympics any more in the future if it refused to pay/run from payment.

LMAO.

So the only penalty Japan would face from walking away from this hellish nightmare and telling the IOC to take its contract and stuff it is the threat that if it does so the IOC won't allow Japan to subject itself to any more hellish nightmares in the future?

This sounds like a really really strong argument in favor of Japan walking away and telling the IOC to get stuffed rather than the opposite.

IOC will lose a lot of money from NBC broadcaster and other foreign corporations. That's why Japan have to pay a lot instead. 

Again how or who will "make" Japan pay?

Japanese courts will never side with the IOC, NBC or any other group, corporation or government.

The Japanese courts will declare the SOE as a legitimate reason.

Any attempt at going to a foreigner court court, the Japanese government can ignore as no foreign court could enforce any ruling towards Japan.

So again why would Japan have to pay, it just has to say NO and there is nothing the IOC or any others can do about it.

Again how or who will "make" Japan pay?

It is surely IOC. You have to see the contract details. Japan would not take it to court as long as there is an official contract between IOC and JOC. Japan would lose it.

Again how or who will "make" Japan pay?

Japanese courts will never side with the IOC, NBC or any other group, corporation or government.

I was curious about this and looked it up.

The Host City contract states that any dispute will be resolved not in the court of any country, but by resort to arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (which is a private body located in Switzerland).

Its worth mentioning that the Central Government isn't actually a party to the contract so could not be sued, it is between the IOC and the city of Tokyo (so any lawsuit would be against Tokyo, not Japan).

https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/hostcitycontract-EN.pdf

@kwatt

You still haven't answered the question.

If Japan refuses to pay how or who can force it?

No Japanese court will ever enforce a contract during a SOE that would have put the public in danger.

No foreign court has jurisdiction or power to force Japan to pay.

So who will force Japan to pay if it says it won't

It is a simple question.

For clarification, the Host CIty Contract is between The IOC on one hand (Rogge and Carrion), and The City of Tokyo (Naoki Inose) and The Japanese Olympic Committee (Tsunekazu Takeda) on the other hand (actual words of the contract). It was signed Sep 7th, 2013.

Plus 4 addenda and a 'Joinder Agreement' on Aug 6, 2014, signed by Mori (Tokyo OC), Takeda (JOC) and Masuzoe (City of Tokyo).

Takeda was the relative of the Imperial family accused of corruption in the bidding process, and resigned.

Japan is nowhere mentioned in these agreements.

Sorry, should have read: Japan is mentioned in these agreements only through the Japanese Oympic Committee.

The Host City contract states that any dispute will be resolved not in the court of any country, but by resort to arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (which is a private body located in Switzerland).

Yep and if Japan/Tokyo decides to ignore their ruling if it loses, what can they do? nothing!

They have no power to seize and funds, etc...

So like many other countries over the years Japan/Tokyo can just say No.

Actually just reading the Host City Contract, it totally screws Tokyo (and presumably all host cities who have to sign similar ones) in situations like we are facing.

In contract law there is a doctrine of "hardship" which normally allows a party to a contract to avoid obligations where changes in circumstances make performance unduly harsh (like if you've contracted to host an Olympics and suddenly a pandemic makes your performance of that obligation way too hard). But THIS stupid contract says that in cases of hardship all Tokyo can do is ask the IOC to make changes and, if the IOC says "no" then Tokyo has to do whatever it demands. It also precludes Tokyo from asking for any changes that would "adversely affect the games or the IOC", which is nuts.

This only protect the IOC and not the other way around. If the IOC wanted to claim hardship for something, it can freely do so without any similar limitation.

This just reinforces my view that the Olympics are a scam.

If Japan refuses to pay how or who can force it?

It is IOC, what else? I don't know much about it. I heard Japan/JOC have to pay what IOC lost if Japan cancelled the Olympics. You better ask JOC.

And there you have the priority of this Government.

Olympics First!

Wrong on so many ways

Yep and if Japan/Tokyo decides to ignore their ruling if it loses, what can they do? nothing!

They have no power to seize and funds, etc...

So like many other countries over the years Japan/Tokyo can just say No.

I'm not sure what the best legal strategy for Tokyo is.

The contract is governed by Swiss law, and its possible that Tokyo would have a valid legal argument under Swiss contract law which would allow it to avoid the contract under the circumstances (I don't know enough about Swiss contract law to know if that is the case or not). So probably if they cancelled and the case was brought to arbitration their first step would be to fight the case on the merits.

It would only be if they lost that they'd reach that decision fork where they have to decide whether to abide by a judgment against them or not.

Even though the Court of Arbitration itself doesn't have the power to enforce its judgments, the judgment could be taken to national courts for enforcement. The IOC might try to enforce it in Swiss courts, which (f they were succesful) they could then bring to a Japanese court to actually enforce (or they might bring it to the Japanese courts first). While courts in Japan are certainly subject to political pressure, if Tokyo was basing its strategy on just ignoring the order against it I think that would be too much for Japanese courts to ignore and they would probably rule against the Tokyo government.

Knowing this in advance, the Tokyo government is unlikely to pursue such an option and is more likely to negotiate a settlement with the IOC which probably pays it off, allowing the IOC to make off like bandits while us taxpayers get screwed. Which is how they legally structured this stupid thing to play out in the first place.

Its outrageous and I absolutely despise the IOC, but I think that would be how it would probably play out in reality if Tokyo does cancel. We're all going to get screwed one way or another by this and it is entirely by design to be that way.

Great news! As I repeatedly state here the games will be safe. The government is committed to ensuring the games run smoothly and safely. This is a prestigious event awaited eagerly by hundreds of millions around the globe. The IOC and the government have taken expert advice to ensure we are all safe. Yes, there are some against the games, few have genuine fears, the rest just don’t like the Olympics for some reason. The government have displayed courage in remaining firm and doing the right thing for the world.

What do you call a leader that does not listen to his people, and does what he wants?

A dictator,

The IOC and Jgov have clearly been told by the citizens of Japan they do not want the games at this time

But the IOC and Jgov seem to think they rule the people!

I hope that Tokyo will be a turning point for all future Olympic city candidates to just reject this scam. I also hope that Olympics in this format and with the current corrupted leadership will be rejected all over the world so the corrupted IOC members will have to beg dear leader of North Korea to host the future Olympics in Pyongyang. One thing is sucking money, but putting millions in risk so you can leech some profit is not acceptable by any moral standard.

From a medical perspective this makes little sense. Rather they should be focusing on all the volunteers, staff etc. who will come into contact with foreigners and might quickly spread it to the rest of society. Ahh well, the King of Sit-ups knows what's best and everyone will be 100 % safe...

By foreigners I mean olympic staff from abroad who have not quarantined. Not us foreigners in Japan in general.

What about my 90 year old mother in law?

Let her (and you and me) eat cake.

Olympic will lift the spirit of us all!

except those family members that arent vaccinated , get infected and die because J athletes take priority over the rest of the population

@Weareallathletes, not gladiators playing battle royale !

Vote for change.

Please let speak the scientists cognizant about epidemy and its consequences.

It seems to me that Tokyo has done all it could to meet it's contractual obligations but the situation still remains dangerously close to whatever escape clause in in the contract.

That is why it is the IOC now that is moving heaven and earth to address the situation

The JOC will not reveal the rollout schedule for each sports body but said those traveling overseas will be vaccinated as early as late May at the National Training Center in Tokyo.

Hm !? Are they traveling for qualifiers ? If I remember not all olympian dreamers saw their dream to take part in the OG shattered by IOC when they decided to cancel several qualifiers for the OG and some qualifier are still taking place. So could we have the list and inscription document so that we can get our older vaccinated ? Since the qualification is until June 29th, to get the 5weeks delay until immunization, they will vaccinate even hopefuls athletes, so ...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/05/15/olympics/summer-olympics/olympics-boxing/nurse-tsubata-olympic-dream/

They can't even do THIS till the last minute.

They do know that it does not take an instantaneous effect right?

Pfft..........what am I saying? of course they don't. They don't know anything.

Well, just hurry the hell up, so that we can move on from the "Olympic Superiors" and move on to the common folk like the rest of the 97% of the vast population around here.

Sick of this crap already.

The one-party political system here means that Suga and his mob can get away with whatever they want, and the people have NO voice.

And still the Japanese primarily vote LDP anyway. It’s not that the people have No voice. It’s more likely they have One voice.

And the results are obvious.

Suga has had his vaccination and that is all that matters!

Those travelling overseas will be vaccinated as early as late May. So the Japanese Sport climbing team whom has been competing since 16 of May at Salt Lake City Ohio USA have all be vaccinated ? JOC stated that vaccinating will start late May. Now someone has their date wrong. I assume the Sport Climbing team has been fully vaccinated. The JOC couldn't be as stupid as the AOC. Who did send a Skate boarding team to compete in Ohio without being fully vaccinated. The team were put in lock down without being able to compete in the Olympic Qualifier and all fail to qualify for the Tokyo Game.

Look at those two jokers in the pic. DO you really think they are talking about solving this problem?

Hashimoto: pssst, you got your cut yet?

Fujio: no, I was told after this "press conference"

Hashimoto: ok, good. yeah, right after, you're gonna get it. just keep to the script.

Fujio: Excellent. Are we still on for drinks later on?

Hashimoto: yeah yeah, I'll be there. Just wait at the place. and shut it. and remember, don't mention this to anyone, or else it's all over for you. know your role.

And even higher survival rates for young healthy Olympic athletes. 

That conclusion is mistaken, young healthy people have the highest rates of survival of an infection, but professional athletes during an international competition are not in a normal situation and elevated infectiious problems are well documented in them.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8171226/

Nothing personal, I didn't even know who said that originally,I just quoted a quote

kwattToday  08:50 am JST

Athletes should be vaccinated if Olympics is held. They must not infect others.

You keep posting this disingenuous rubbish. Being vaccinated does not stop you getting the virus and passing it on. It does stop you getting sick and dying, that’s what it does.

On May 17, I booked 1st shot on May 22.

On May 24, I booked 2nd Pfizer shot for June 17. Friend booked both online for me within 10 minutes each time.

Yes, some luck came into play on the first shot but it is doable.

You keep posting this disingenuous rubbish. Being vaccinated does not stop you getting the virus and passing it on. It does stop you getting sick and dying, that’s what it does.

@luddite

Personally Olympics should not be held, but athletes should be vaccinated before it starts. As you see, athletes all over the world would be vaccinated before they come. They will.

Although I hope the games get called off, I'm happy to hear that people are getting vaccinated.

Just my opinion, and maybe wrong, but vaccination of young people would be more effective at controlling the spread.

Just my opinion, and maybe wrong, but vaccination of young people would be more effective at controlling the spread.

You may be right but it's not the main consideration for prioritization. Priority are the most at risk

Vaccines are currently only available to medical workers and seniors aged 65 or over.

I think it would be more accurate to say a few lucky seniors aged 65 or over. My city took booking for vaccinations for six minutes after which the server crashed and all bookings were taken. I was told to try again next month. It is easier to get a ticket for the Stones or some other big rock concert.

I was informed by my girlfriend a volunteer for the Olympics that she had been offered a vaccination by Tokyo City. However, the vaccination was for rubella, not covid. That is crazy. I thought there was a shortage of people who can legally give injections. Is rubella a problem now?

This is nuts. I can only guess that Tokyo wants to claim it is vaccinating volunteers even though the vaccine is not the right one. MMR vaccine is usually only given once and lasts for life. Most people don't need a second shot.

Tokyo government sent me a free coupon of measels and rubella vaccination, I must book for it today.

I called the designated clinics, and found Tokyo government haven't let them know about the free-measels rubella vaccination coupon things yet.

“We’re going to make sure that the fittest, healthiest people in the world are protected from COVID, as long as they win medals for us. You want your vulnerable family members to get the vaccine, enter them into the marathon or something” said a spokesman on condition of anonymity.

Every government in the world first responsibility is the safety of their citizens. First get everyone vaccinated then and only then hold the Olympics. Have the Olympics next year get the pharmacists around the country trained to give the shots.

@Scarce they are not going to get the vaccine by you commenting here. Go get them vaccinated. that is your responsibility. do not blame your personal failures on any government. your so demanding and whiney.