Tokyo Olympic CEO hints Games could be in doubt even in 2021

The pandemic has, and is burning its way through the developed countries because of the ease of travel. The African continent, the lesser developed countries and the refugee camps such as in Syria do not have the luxury of travel and have thus far been saved by this scourge. The conditions are so poor in those areas that if the virus takes a foot hold it will be death on a scale that we have yet to see in these modern times. Should the virus begin its infection later this year, I'm afraid that the international medical and volunteer relief organizations will be maxed out trying to contain the spread. The world will not be in a festive mood to celebrate while thousands are dying. The Olympics should be the last thing on anyone's mind at this point. Besides, I believe the trauma of this pandemic would have burned its way into the collective memory of the developed countries that I doubt anyone would be ready and willing to fly to Tokyo and to live in close quarters at the Olympics. "Suppose they gave a war and nobody came."

Someone must have finally read the history of the Spanish flu and understands the fact now that the 2nd year was much more deadly in the 1st year.

It is quite possible the games will not happen.

Well, unless Tokyo and the rest of Japan get serious about isolating people the pandemic could drag on for years in Japan. What Koike said yesterday about ‘asking’ bars to close at 8pm is absurd! All bars and restaurants should be closed immediately and only essential services should remain open. They have to get those incubator cattle trains empty in the mornings if they want to have any hope of controlling the spread of this virus.

A realist in the house!

Opposition political leaders have suggested he downplayed the severity of the virus and have said it may have been tied to wanting to hold the Olympics this year.

Every single person I've spoken to about this firmly believes that Abe, the JOC, the IOC, Governor Koike and all the rest deliberately downplayed the severity of the virus until the instant the Games were cancelled. Not only people, but the majority of the global media believe that too.

“But whether the postponement of the Games qualifies as an event that is covered is not clear yet."

One suspects Mr. Muto is being economical with the truth here. I wonder why that could be? Could the CEO really not know whether his Olympics is insured?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-coronavirus-insurance-idUSKCN20M1YD

Looks like Lloyds of London will be forced to cough up. Together with Tokyo and Japanese tax payers, of course

Give over! This is a not important at all

I am thinking of this even before the postpone. The Government needs to subsidized all family and individuals to make them stay in their homes for atleast 1 month or until all the infected are being point out. else the virus will keep on spreading.

Keep On Dreaming, that's what got this country in trouble in the first place. Lies after lies about how well Japan is doing then as soon as the games are canceled all Hell brakes loose.

Stop the LIES.

This guy is the typical example of one of the oldies boys from Japan.

Full of pride and willing to save face and his so beloved honour rather than care of the pubblic health of it’s people.

These kind of people are one of the reason why Japan is in such struggling time.

Hope the young generations of that country won’t be so stubborn as the one of this guy.

You can't still have your cake after you eat it. Abe is half measuring everything, trains are still packed, offices are still packed, you want the Olympics to happen ? lock down the cities, bleed the economy now, or like the saying goes "lose both birds".

it's only after the athletes cancelled, immediately following a tone deaf Thomas Bach IOC speech, that the olympics were cancelled. Likewise the decision to continue will also be with the athletes. Better hope there isn't a second wave or the next year is also not possible to train

totally not going to happen within 18 months. International travel is all but done until a vaccine is mass-produced.

2020 Olympics were doomed from the start. There has been no stage of the process which hasn't had a black cloud over it. From how the games were won (bribery), the official logo (plagiarism), budget (inability to do math), etc, etc, etc.

Now, why did the guy have to say this JUST when people like Koike are STARTING to take the virus somewhat seriously? If it hadn't been for people like her and Abe -- both power hungry maniacs who want legend far more than people to be safe and survive the virus -- people like Ken Shimura and the countless other victims of this may still be alive, and Japan might be near the top of the world, like South Korea is, in testing and slowing the curve instead of having no idea where infections are coming from because they didn't bother to test in the first place. Now watch Koike start talking about how we are going to be through the worst of it soon, how there's no need to shut down anything more, and how talk of postponing or cancelling again would be irresponsible, etc.

It's apparent with this crisis Japan has been caught with its pants down.

Now imagine if the Olympics hadn't been cancelled and we had 500,000 to 1,000, 000

visitor on our hands what would have happened. Total chaos. Meanwhile over in Korea there are

tests in tents set up in every municipality. Just walk outside a few blocks and you will get tested.

So Japan, a country that's been demographically suffocating for decades and inching ever closer into bankruptcy, decides to spend $15 billion on a big extravaganza because everything will obviously turn around for Japan if only the rest of the world takes notice of her for two weeks and sees how very unique all the "very famous Japanese" this and that is.

Now, she's about 18" closer to bankruptcy. But good job, Japan, I'm sure mailing 2 masks to everyone will fix it all.

Maybe everyone should mail their 2 masks back as a sign of solidarity.

Now imagine if the Olympics hadn't been cancelled and we had 500,000 to 1,000, 000

visitor on our hands what would have happened

So do you actually think if they had not cancelled the Olympics this year 500,000 to 1,000,000 people would still have come to Tokyo? Rather difficult with the current world situation, regulations and state of world air travel. The Olympics was not going to happen this year whatever they decided,

At least this guy is facing up to the possibility that it most likely will not be that different next year and the Olympics will not be happening then either, irrespective of whether they say to cancel it or not.

This virus is not gong away in a couple months. Experts worldwide are agreed it will last 18 months or more till a vaccine is found and universally distributed and even then the world will not be able to suddenly snap back to where it was. An Olympics next year will not be happening.

They should have cut their losses and canceled it already rather than spending another 2-5 billion ( according to the organizing committee ) of taxpayers money to postpone it! What if next year the virus outbreak is still not under control? What if there is another big earthquake in Tokyo? What if Mt. Fuji erupts sending 2 feet of ashes to Tokyo ( according to authorities prediction ) and good as well as water supply is cut off! Too many red lights are seen already! If somehow the Olympics does happen successfully then I guess it will be good for the economy to some extent! A big gamble though but who cares as long as it’s not their own money!

The Olympics are a year away. he best thing for "Muto" is to stay positive and not even hint about the possibility of the olympics not happening next summer or to shut the hell up.....