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© 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Zero risk? Virus cases test Olympic organizers' assurances
By STEPHEN WADE TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Cricky
Organizers say that 55 people linked to the Olympics in Japan have reported positive tests since July 1, but that figure does not include athletes or others who may have arrived for training camps but are not yet under the "jurisdiction" of the organizing committee.
what? So these athletes, entourage and others?, get a free pass to enter Japan, but are not under “jurisdiction” of the organising committee. On what planet does that make sense? Starting to think these safe a secure Olympics* might be a colossal lie.
Nice to know the elite had a party though. While everyone else is in a lockdown. This is just vile.
Politik Kills
Of course their lies of ‘zero risk’ will come undone.
and why is soccer an Olympic sport?!
dagon
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said last week there was "zero" risk of athletes passing on the virus to Japanese or other residents of the village. But that bold statement was already being tested.
If you set zero as the bar for your test it has already failed on the face of it. Not that anything coming out of the IOC or LDP should be taken at face value.
virusrex
Anybody talking about zero risk is lying, plain and simple. You can reduce risk, down to insignificant proportions but never to nothing. The only proved strategy that effectively reduces risk as much as possible is vaccination, testing and quarantine. The olympic organizers are betting all in (self) testing, hoping athletes will vaccinate and gave up almost completely about quarantines, that means cases will keep happening during the whole event.
If the cases could have been prevented by the half-baked measures they put in order for the games the world would not had so much troubles with the pandemic in the first place.
Wakarimasen
Any zero talk around covid is ridiculous. It is here to stay and we better get used to,it.
Kitchener Leslie
The LDP must be seething at the fact that so many people are being tested.
Droll Quarry
Tora
This didn't include the scares in Australian and British teams overnight with athletes now confined to their rooms.
Next they're going to start a Olympics daily case count, like we had for the Diamond Princess, but with a brrakdown by country, similar to the medal count tables.
Some dude
Nobody who was spouting that “zero risk“ line believed it for a second.
And as for this:
The IOC says it sees the Games as a chance to foster international solidarity during difficult times, but the IOC would also lose billions of dollars in broadcast rights if the Games were to be canceled completely.
We can use this to teach people new to Japan about the concepts of tatemae and honne.
Cricky
So you can win a Gold medal, but celebrating it is banned.
but
The 40 guests also included Tokyo Games organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto and her (multi-disgraced) predecessor, Yoshiro Mori.
And that 40 count does not include translators, drivers, security, waiting staff, photographers, dishwashers. Aids. Something is not morally right here.
leighkf
why did Mori san attend that welcome party? thought he was ousted from his position.
Alfie Noakes
The Refugee Team head and IOC member Tegla Loroupe has tested positive for coronavirus and won't be coming to Tokyo. Ditto Coco Gauff, the US tennis player.
Six athletes and 2 staff from the British athletics team are in isolation after a passenger on their flight to Japan tested positive. How did that happen? Surely passengers have to test negative before they're allowed on the plane?
Oh, this is how it happened:
https://twitter.com/TaylorLC1996/status/1416840416608112647
What a shambles.
Droll Quarry
Okinawa is in a State of Emergency, but over the past 5 or so days there has been a steadily increasing stream of tourists and rental cars on Hwy 58 headed from the international airport at Naha to the north end of the island where the large hotels and resorts are. I expect the virus count will start ticking up here as well. Okinawa does not have the luxury of a lot of hospitals to distribute patients around.
Some dude
why did Mori san attend that welcome party? thought he was ousted from his position.
He probably Reflected Profoundly On His Conduct.
Some dude
Ditto Coco Gauff, the US tennis player.
She’s a rising star and a major draw. The IOC must be relieved that at least Osaka is participating.
Sam Watters
The picture’s caption says everything you need to know about these “games”: while the rest of society suffers and perseveres, the elite gather in a palace and party….and do so on our dime.
Tokyo-Engr
Very simply stated Risk is a function of the severity of an incident, the probability of occurance, the probability of avoidance.
I perform quantitative and qualitative risk assessments as part of my job; day in/day out. As Virusrex correctly pointed out there is no such thing as "zero risk".
What Bach said was either an outright lie or he is an ignorant person with little understanding of the situation.
I wish the athletes would have spoken out and considered boycotting but I understand for them this is a very hard situation so I can understand them attending.
Even moreso I am beginning to feel sorry for them because the IOC refused to delay the games so they can have a better experience.
The IOC does not care about Japan, the Japanese citizens, nor the athletes so much it seems. The Japanese government also is culpible in this.
The photo of their reception is disgusting at this time. In politics they would call that "bad optics" however it appears they really do not care at all.
I imagine this is being read by the IOC as factual comments are being posted and downvoted. Shame on you.
quercetum
The focus has been on the people in Japan but Bach doesn’t mention putting the 11,000 plus athletes who travel through a pandemic at great risks in Japan then to become carriers returning to their home countries.
paddletime
Further proof he/they the IOC will say and do anything to keep the money train humming and it's sad that the world allows them to do this
Tokyo-Engr
@Michael O’ Dereiter
Who's the dufus thumbing down every single remark which is remotely anti-Olympic, even if it's just quoting Twitter?
When people have no rational argument for their cause (i.e.: holding the games now and under these conditions) the only alternative is to use the downvote button or lash out.
I have yet to read a single post on this website which presents a rational and well thought out argument why having the Olympics at this time is a good idea. The best arguments..."we delayed once we cannot do it again". Or they are testing and isolating (does not apply to 10's of thousands of others here for the games however)
There is zero financial benefit to Japan to hold the games, only avoidance of the threat of extortion (penalties to the IOC). There is absolutely zero benefit to Japanese citizens or residents of Japan.
paddletime
Droll Quarry
That's very true, yesterday the marine sports venues were packed, diving, snorkeling tours. We have seen boats loaded with 20 plus people with no masks head to the dive sites, gonna be a rise in the numbers in about 2 weeks. State of Emergency is a joke here, it only applies to the residents but eh airports are bringing in folks big time.
Chico3
Let's see. Zero risks? How about 3 athletes infected with COVID, an athlete gone missing from his hotel. Did they include the scares from the Australian and British teams? By definition, zero is no quantity or number. I guess this reporter must have read a different dictionary.
gogogo
Criminal and stupid.
Fighto!
Absolutely despicable that Bach is attending a welcome party. Yet another opportunity for the virus to spread between locals and these olympic dropkicks.
Has this man no shame?
Cricky
Aso was there too with no mask? Coughing away. On Tv there are hundreds of people attending certainly not 40. Tax payers money and they are flaunting their excesses while telling same tax payers to forgo their holiday plans again.
Phil
Just watching news, just showed Aso going into reception NO mask and coughing. They really do think they are above the rest of us. Plenty of aids around them as well.
On a side note, took our dog down to the beach this morning and the Asuka 11 sailed past. So cruising started again???
This is worth a read, the Twitter account is one of the athletes, unbelievable
Aly Rustom
Exactly!
Yubaru
It may be an "international" airport, but the international terminal is closed! Outside of cargo planes that come in during the night, there are no international tourists in Okinawa now!
All those rentals and tourists you see are from mainland! The foreigners that ARE here are training for the Olympics.
This coming 4 day weekend is going to push the numbers higher again!
Aly Rustom
or both
Like I said...
NONE. He's getting paid and that is all he cares about.
BlackFlagCitizen
Not all the athletes have even arrived yet, and we're already seeing cracks in the walls. We all know there is no plan B, so we all need to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best now.
HJSLLS
It is amazing that no medical experts have a voice in what is happening. Japan and the IOC have thoroughly muted them throughout the decision making. There must be an international review of this tragic set of events to prevent anything like this from happening without our global medical leaders in charge.
Michael Machida
"About 200 protesters gathered Sunday outside Shinjuku station in central Tokyo, waving signs that read "No Olympics." It was the latest in a series of small protests against the Games in the last few months."
Why are there not more Japanese protesters?
If about 80% of Japanese people are against the Olympics here in Japan, why are there not thousands of protesters?
HBJ
Again, I ask at what point do decisions get made to completely shut down parts of the village, and/or events get cancelled? Has any journalist got a specific answer to this question from the IOC yet?
What's the magic number - 20 positives? 50? 100? 50 positives in the same apartment block? 50 positives from the same event?
Apparently a handful of Team GB athletes and support staff are having to self isolate after a Japanese person on their flight over tested positive on arrival.
'Bubble' and 'no risk' my behind.
Yotomaya
Everything happening for the last few weeks has been so predictable it's actually depressing.
SOE, anyone? And why was Mori there, do people usually get invited to parties at workplaces they've been fired from for discrimination? I guess nothing can stop these guys from partying like there's no tomorrow.
Hideomi Kuze
This welcome party itself violates guideline under state of emergency.
Such "exception or preferential treatment for Olympics" has offended general citizen day by day.
William77
The whole thing is a great problem,and it will only increase the deep xenophobia that Japan already has from it’s nature.
Hokkaidoboy
The IOC is exposing many to COVID-19 and the Games are unpopular among most Japanese. Zero risk proved wrong and a total disrespect to the over 815K people infected in Japan and worse to the 15K dead from the virus. Total shame.
Danielsan
The Olympic games need to adapt to changing times. Mass migration of athletes and associated personnel to a host country is no longer prudent.
Competitions could be done remotely and simultaneously, monitored electronically.
For example an 8 lane 100 meter dash could be run in 8 different countries with one runner in each, all started at the same time with the contestants combined through the magic of television. Same for all other sports, except those requiring one on one contact such as fencing or wrestling. Just eliminate such sports from the agenda and an Olympics could be run free of disease transmission.
Derek Grebe
Erratum:
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said last week there was "zero" risk of athletes passing on the virus to Japanese or other residents of the village. But that bold statement was already being tested.
But that bold statement has already been proven to be utter nonsense, as we all knew it was when the words fell out of his corrupt lips.
There, fixed it
Antiquesaving
Now remember when it was said the IOC by some miracle procured vaccine for the games.
Well that only applied to Athletes and not staff, coaches, etc... So they had to somehow get a vaccine on their own, hence the South African J&J shot.
But a certain French speaking country's news is reporting that the IOC supplied vaccine may not have actually gone to the athletes in places where vaccine is rare and may have "let" someone else get vaccinated in their place.
Honestly this would not be surprising, young healthy poor gets the chance to get mom or dad to get vaccinated in their place or make a years salary by letting someone else get it, especially if that Vaccine is Pfizer and anything locally available is Sinovac.
BitHed
"The Olympics is not about whether you win or lose, its not even about the colour of your medal .." No its now about whether you can get in, compete, and get out without getting sick ..
Maria 'Bing' Velasquez Reid
The IOC says it sees the Games as a chance to foster international solidarity during difficult times, but the IOC would also lose billions of dollars in broadcast rights if the Games were to be canceled completely.
So many hopefuls. As cases rise pray.
Wear N95 masks! They should all be carrying their own hand sanitizers.
This is what happens when you cannot even ask them if they are vaccinated or not. Why not! How about the lives of people who could get infected!
Maria 'Bing' Velasquez Reid
IOC is downplaying the pandemic.
vendingmachinemusic
Why did the photoshop in the Geisha?
ShinkansenCaboose
One: The IOC has insurance so if the broadcasts don’t happen, it just means their rates go up, for Beijing 2022.
Two: Am flabbergasted that Mori even found his way by luxury limousine.
Three: It is the money folks!
Four: lots of foreign skateboarders all over the streets and sidewalks down at KataseEnoshima where the sailing events are. Massless, careless, and not a concern in the world.
ShinkansenCaboose
Almost forgot. I get my second jab on the 25th I think. My wife wants me to keep away from the surf so I don’t bring virus loads home.
Recall when they said after the elderly those with underlying conditions would be next? Well there is no data base on those people. So they crossed that off. She has a serious issue and I offered my time slots and they said no. Something wrong here folks. Something seriously wrong.
And coughing Aso…can’t believe they put that on tv.
Antiquesaving
How long have you been in Japan, 2 days?
You can't tell the difference between a woman in traditional formalwear and a Geisha?????
Zeram1
Just announced that 21 people have been in close contact with Infected South African team.
Cancel this disastrous event now please
HBJ
Just wait until it's leaked that Bach is contractually obliged to a 7 or 8 figure 'bonus' for ensuring the Games are held within the four year cycle.
daito_hak
Yes exactly so then what the damn point to organize an event during which even vaccinated people will have to go through this nonsense? This thing is turning into a mess of embarrassing scale. What a disaster.
itsonlyrocknroll
Risk can never be eliminated. Risk by its nature is variable.
Every action, behavior carries an element of risk.
Zero-risk bias is irrational as the element of choice will always be present . The belief that absolute certitude of an outcome is a totally illogical premise.
I would take International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach assertion that there is zero risk of athletes passing on the virus to Japanese or other residents of the village with a barrow load of salt.
AramaTaihenNoYouDidnt
The snapshot is clearly leading a function of alleged moral ambiguity.
Pim
@HBJ
That's interesting but... Sources?
IOC is not really renown for its financial transparency.
RoccoL
Walking past the Okura hotel in Toranomon today where there is a lot of activity around the Olympics. Seems there’s a lot of foreign and local officials with clipboards, and the 2020 t-shirts randomly walking around the local area for a stroll.
When they are all mingling and circulating freely, it can only end badly. Local officials will be heading home this evening to families having been fully exposed to unquarrantined and possibly unvaxxed people from around the world.
drlucifer
There is still money to make for dentsu and other contractors, TV stations, security companies, translation, manpower supply companies etc etc. If it was completely zero the LDP could have pulled the plug. The LDP are in it up to the neck like the IOC.
Richard Burgan
What don't they get about being fully vaccinated? The whole problem is simple if you're not fully vaccinated you don't participate in the Olympics. Or, put it the other way if you are fully vaccinated you can fully participate in the Olympics. This goes for officials, athletes, spectators, support workers, staff, etc. Why didn't the Japanese government and the IOC announce this policy a few months ago and have a nice smooth Olympic games?
starpunk
'Zero risk?'. More like zero brains and zero guts.
And they're fooling zero people with this.
luthierinseattle
I just read, on another Japanese news website, The Bach had asked PM Suga to allow spectators. This confirms that Bach is simply a dolt who does not understand basic Science. Or, perhaps, he simply cares only about money and doesn't care about the Japanese people. Just. That. Simple. Money over safety. Although I hope for the best, I am betting on many more cases and positive tests by the end of the week. SHAMEFUL MR BACH! yes. I meant to raise my screen voice because he doesn't seem to be hearing the polite voice tone...
drlucifer
My fears have are already happening before the show even starts.
What is the essence of the team quarantining and not practising for their match against the host in 3 days time. It is a team whether they stay in their hotels they will still be mixing with each other. they can as well be training instead of playing video games while their opponents are training. Talk about level playing field, this is not even close. So unbelievably disproportionate.
Pim
@dr Lucifer
Couldn't agree more. This is the only reason why Japan is putting up with this mess.
The very hypothetical penalty for pulling out was at around $5bn or 0.1% of the country's GDP. In other words, peanuts. The official, and therefore certainly underestimated, cost of the postponement alone was close to $3bn.
Just follow the money and you'll know why this is happening. I wish there were more investigative journalism here and abroad.
drlucifer
So where did they contract it ?. I hope just like in the case of the Ugandan some fool does appear on J-TV telling us PCR testing in South Africa isn't as good as Japan and how Japan has the most accurate PCR testing.
itsonlyrocknroll
Ironic, the only methodology that could have guaranteed athletes not passing on the virus to Japanese or other residents of the village is to have canceled the 2020 Japan Olympic Games, then the Olympic Village would have remained empty
Some dude
I hope just like in the case of the Ugandan some fool does appear on J-TV telling us PCR testing in South Africa isn't as good as Japan and how Japan has the most accurate PCR testing.
In which case you also have to have the face of an attractive but airheaded female talento in a box at the top of the screen, making the faces she is told to by the director. “Look inquisitive! Look proud! Do the heeeeeeeeh face!”
drlucifer
Ask for another test you fool. Just last week a slovenian tested negative at the airport, tested positive from a pcr test in the training camp and a subsequent PCR test was negative. The same happened to Japanese gymnast Uchimura a few months ago in a pre-olympic tournament here in Japan.
Who will be blame or be surprised if a rumour is running in SA that their team has been deliberately weakened.
drlucifer
How about those who hosted and invited him ? I guess you are blaming him for not turning down the invitation from the host. I understand Bach is not loved here but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be rational in our criticism.
drlucifer
The "Shoganai Mode"" is already is already switched on.
drlucifer
You forgot his host Suga as well not too long ago had a couple of Goto campaigns during a pandemic. Bach probably was telling Suga to take a leaf out of he Suga's book on what to do during a pandemic which is get people to mix as much as possible.
cleo
Middle of a pandemic, numbers in Tokyo rising.... Folk who are sensible enough to want the fiasco stopped are too sensible to gather in large numbers in Tokyo.
Absense of evidence is not evidence of absense?
drlucifer
Has nothing to do with the rising number of cases. People especially the young easily give up on things like this "shoganai" there is nothing I cannot do about it attitude. You see it even when there is voting. A remarkable contrast with the SK.
audioboy77
Just imagine if they were this thorough with testing on the general population.
Bjorn Tomention
Residents are not allowed to have drinks or socialise with friends colleagues or enjoy their summer, but these elite hold welcome parties for their over entitled friends and guests who all have their snouts in the trough .
This bach is a real piece of work isnt he, touring around japan having parties..............
Does it look fair, or seem decent and righteous ?
It just gets more and more obscene and disgusting each day, whats on offer tomorrow ................
kurisupisu
For the elite, the pandemic party is a new thrill and after the steak dinner!
audioboy77
The only potential benefit of olympics left was 'soft power', given that there can be no benefit to the economy or tourism (a huge net loss in fact given the costs). But given all the controversies leading up to the olympics, plus the obvious corona outbreaks like this... seems to me its just overall having quite a negative impact on Japans international image.
kohakuebisu
Toyota have just announced they won't be running any Olympics related tv commercials and won't attend the Opening Ceremony. That's how a top-tier sponsor, not me, simple JT reader, is judging the country's mood.
No Ginger
I can't even imagine how bad this is going to be by the end of the 'Games'. The whole village in lockdown, and no events taking place at all.
Some dude
Toyota have just announced they won't be running any Olympics related tv commercials and won't attend the Opening Ceremony. That's how a top-tier sponsor, not me, simple JT reader, is judging the country's mood.
While this is another welcome blow to these farcical games, I wonder if it’s not at least in part related to Toyota’s recent PR issues with donations to politicians who questioned or denied the results of the US election, i.e. pre-emptively fending off bad publicity.
drlucifer
On the contrary, the J-TV channels are already in the Bring-on-the-the-olympic mood, running specials on Japan medal hopeful. They are doing a good job boosting interest for the games. I bet you when it starts you won't believe that a greater percentage was against it.
as_the_crow_flies
Organizers say that 55 people linked to the Olympics in Japan have reported positive tests since July 1, but that figure does not include athletes or others who may have arrived for training camps but are not yet under the "jurisdiction" of the organizing committee.
Just wait for Hashimoto or some other stuffed shirt, or even our Glorious Leader Herr Bach, to come out and say 'I hardly knew them'.
Antiquesaving
Not really surprising.
I pointed out well over a month ago that all the Olympics sponsors markings had been removed from or Toyota dealer including covering even cutting posters boarders to remove Tokyo 2020 from them.
I noticed more and more dealers doing the same.
Figured Toyota would soon pull out.
as_the_crow_flies
Just wait for Hashimoto or some other stuffed shirt, or even our Glorious Leader Herr Bach, to come out and say 'We hardly knew them'.
Richard Gallagher
In spite of assurances from Bach. And contrary to evidence. What is occurring: The Biohazard Olympics. Not just the spread of covid, but: Rapists. Cokeheads. 20 year old Ugandan weightlifter missing, perhaps spreading the SARSCoC-2 variant (who didn't make the team, which begs the question: why is he in Japan?) - one can imagine, he is violating physical distancing rules as he wanders about Japan, ostensibly 'looking for work' - so said his departing note.
Covid in the Olympic Village. South African soccer players. Covid among Olympic venue workers.
Games do not begin until this Friday. Bach informed everyone, with which Suga & Koike concurred, athletes would not enter the country prior to 48 hours. More nonsense form those three. There are athlete scattered across Japan. Prime example: Uganda.
Apparently, this protocol is not being observed: Athletes, officials and other stakeholders, including journalists, who are traveling from countries listed in group No. 1 must be tested for COVID-19 every day for seven days prior to their flight to Japan and keep their physical interaction with others to an absolute minimum. Those coming from countries listed in group No. 2 must be tested every day for three days prior to their departure and keep their physical interaction with others to an absolute minimum.
And this is being ignored. Look at the photograph. This is from the Official Rules Book: Individuals must maintain a 2-meter distance from athletes and at least 1 meter from others at all times, including in operational spaces. They should avoid unnecessary forms of physical contact, including hugs, high-fives and handshakes, and should spend time only with the people identified as their regular contacts.
Richard Gallagher
Add to that number of infected. More and more athletes, not in the Olympic Village, but amongst the citizenry have contracted SARSCoV-2. Contrary to the assertions of Bach and the rule book, were supposed to arrive within a proscribed number of days in Japan and reside in the Olympic village. Instead are in an outlying areas. And have been there for prolonged periods. From Shikoku to north of Tokyo.
An alternate on the US women's gymnastics team has been placed in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, USA Gymnastics announced in a Monday statement.
A second alternate on the team is also in isolation after having had close contact with the athlete who tested positive, USA Gymnastics said.
USA Gymnastics said its Olympic athletes were moved to separate lodging accommodations and a separate training facility on Monday, as originally planned, where they will continue preparations for competition.
The gymnast tested positive on Sunday and the result was confirmed Monday, Inzai city official Takamitsu Ooura said.
The gymnast was staying in Inzai City in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, for pre-camp ahead of the Tokyo Olympics which start on Friday.
starpunk
I'm not ashamed to shout my disgust about Bach's lack of concern nor his greed because he has no heart at all. MR. BACH, YOU ARE GREEDY AND CONSIDERATE ABOUT OTHERS. SHAME ON YOU! You will have blood on your hands!
WilliB
There is no zero risk anywhere in life. For that matter, forcing masks on everybody and destroying social and economic life of the people does not carry zero risk either.
The random and often contradictory edicts thought up by activist politicians and bureacrats hardly pass a risk-benefit evaluation anyhwere.
starpunk
Oh I guess Big Bucks is more valuable than lives, isn't it? Is that what we live, work, strive and are educated and raised to do - the Big God of Moolah. Yeah, uh-huh.
'Big Money. Got no sooooouuuuulllllllll...........' (synth attack, then guitar blast) - RUSH