tokyo 2020 olympics

Around 15 world leaders, dignitaries to attend Olympic opening ceremony

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They've drawn those rings about as well as the IOC and J-Gov have managed the Olympics.

13 ( +19 / -6 )

If it is not safe for spectators to watch the Olympics in person, how is it safe for world leaders to be watching the Olympics in person? Only for thee, not for me mentality by the world leaders. Blah, blah, blah.

16 ( +22 / -6 )

I’m assuming the word “dignitary” shares a root with “dignity”.

They will need all their training to maintain an image of that when they are on the TV cameras in a stadium full of empty seats.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

The pretend army need to learn how to draw.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

The Olympics is only for the world elite government find that scary

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Back in Europe the news and press are heavily criticizing how Japan is handling this,and finally the rampant xenophobia is also magnified around the globe.

Suga is a light weight in the world politics,he showed his skills of adaptability already at the G7.

21 ( +21 / -0 )

Ot is possible for those dignitaries and also for me to travel and I will be doing so.

The live watching in a venue of any Olympic sport is of course for the ‘dignitaries’

0 ( +2 / -2 )

pcr test 72h before departure, then a 14 days quarantine is required to enter Japan.

Oops, the article is about world leaders. Sorry for that.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Bach could ask the hotel staff if they have any camp beds or futons he could put down. Plenty of floor space.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Back in Europe the news and press are heavily criticizing how Japan is handling this

Good. Japan needs to hear from people who are not invested in this farce, although I doubt many of the members of the JOC read anything in the foreign press other than to find out if a Japanese athlete has won something, and I'll bet the farm that Bach and Coates are doing their very best to avoid seeing anything resembling a newspaper at the moment.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

This whole Olympics is a classic example and learning for aspiring folks on PR/media management - how to manage a narrative

Clearly it is only two world leaders (of any country) - France and Mongolia - France is mandatory as they are next host for the torch passing ceremony and the best Japan could muster in Mongolia head

This shows how great the Japan model of Olympics is being seen by the world leaders and their appetite to get associated with this event

Must hurt the JOC/TOC/IOC/Suga being snubbed by world leaders - but the press positioning is all is hunky dory and look how great we are to host this event - pathetic excuse ....

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Please print the whole list of dignitaries and other unresponsible officials who will be attending so every knows in future when its time to cast votes etc who the elites are who have no shame or dignity !

They sure dont care for us so when it comes around lets show them we sure dont care for them !

5 ( +9 / -4 )

There are also hundreds if not 1,000s of press here soaking up the whole thing and the IOC treatment, starting naming them too !!

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Of course, they’re ALL vaccinated but Japan, sadly, is NOT:

“WHO leader says virus risk inevitable at Tokyo Olympics” - Today

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Dignitaries gathering to listen opening ceremony music by a man who was exhilarated to force a disabled person to eat his own feces and forced him to perform sexual acts. The loser bragged about that in music magazines.

Keigo Oyamada said he is "sorry" when knowledge of ghis spread. Shameful. Utterly disgusting. Just to think that people in paralympics have to listen to tunes of that torturer.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I wonder what the US administration wanted in return for a personal appearance by the president's wife. I can't think of any other reason they felt pressured enough to still send Jill Biden along. The way things are looking, most world leaders are ducking out, but I think the US miscalculated how unsafe the situation is here, and how few others would pitch up. It's quite ironic that the gymnastics team are fleeing the Village. I would if I were them too. But I bet any other 'little people' country tried that, they would have been strongarmed into staying, or been refused to allow to compete. Of course if the US does withdraw, that will pull the plug on the whole circus.

Anyway, those smoke rings seem to be an appropriately sketchy image for this farce.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

CrashTestDummyToday  04:26 pm JST

If it is not safe for spectators to watch the Olympics in person, how is it safe for world leaders to be watching the Olympics in person? Only for thee, not for me mentality by the world leaders. Blah, blah, blah.

To put a positive spin on it, it's a good way to have them all in one place at the same time. Wouldn't want anything untoward happening to them. T'would be a crying shame.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

They may not be moaning about the games but they are reporting that up to 80% of the Japanese people are against holding it!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

To put a positive spin on it, it's a good way to have them all in one place at the same time. Wouldn't want anything untoward happening to them. T'would be a crying shame.

The irony would be so delicious that Michelin would have to invent a fourth star for it.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

206 countries and only 15 leaders attending. Says a lot for the enthusiasm for this IOC Olympics.

My source of information: https://www.whereig.com/olympics/summer-olympics-participating-countries.html

2 ( +4 / -2 )

(Bonus points for anyone who can provide the next four words to that quote above).

1 ( +3 / -2 )

AtemToday  05:28 pm JST

Dignitaries gathering to listen opening ceremony music by a man who was exhilarated to force a disabled person to eat his own feces and forced him to perform sexual acts. The loser bragged about that in music magazines.

Keigo Oyamada said he is "sorry" when knowledge of ghis spread. Shameful. Utterly disgusting. Just to think that people in paralympics have to listen to tunes of that torturer.

The Olympic people kicked him and his music out. Will you be able to bring yourself to praise them for that? Thought not.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

ZorotoToday  06:33 pm JST

206 countries and only 15 leaders attending. Says a lot for the enthusiasm for this IOC Olympics.

Not, 15. Only 2 leaders. The others are heads of other corrupt UN NGO's.

If 100 attended people would be saying it's a super spreader event.

If 15 world leaders attend people say it indicates no one wants the Olympics.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Too bad that general public can't attend, but somewhat understood. Better luck the next time around, COVID has really screwed thing up for so many people but it is a good reminder of how VOLNARABLE we really are.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

If 100 attended people would be saying it's a super spreader event.

Yes.

If 15 world leaders attend people say it indicates no one wants the Olympics.

Yes.

Any questions?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

(I'm a big fan of British humor, but I didn't see that question until now).

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Mongolia would be mentioned and it should be. Why do you hate Mongolia so much?

ZorotoToday  06:27 pm JST

Then you should have worded it this way.

No, I shouldn't have. France is a G7 nation that is always headlined -- I would expect France mentioned if they had 160+ Heads of States attending. But please be frank, if 160+, or even 10 Heads of States were coming, Mongolia would never be mentioned, and you know it.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

It's the same all around. You know none of them are actually footing the bill. Their taxpayers can pay for their flight and whatever else until they get to Japan and then we can comp them on everything with our own taxes, because why not?

Welcome dignitaries. Are the Japanese people happy to have you? Oh, you don’t care one way or the other? Seems legit.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If is unafe to watch how can it be safe to compete ?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Bjorn TomentionToday  08:37 pm JST

If is unafe to watch how can it be safe to compete ?

It must also be a lot less safe to travel on packed subway trains than either of those two.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Around 15 world leaders, dignitaries to attend Olympic opening ceremony!! This implies the other 25 don't believe the Covid safe guards are good enough and they do not support Bach Back and the Olympic committee forcing its hand on Japan!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Let's hope these 15 World Leaders bring some vaccine with them so that all those living in Japan can actually get vaccinated too. There are still no appointments available in Shinjuku.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

How can the world enjoy such a sad event???.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

It's kind of a shame that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have come to this. So many people worked so hard and so much money was spent. The Japanese people wanted to showcase the recovery after the 3/11 Earthquake and Tsunami by holding a spectacular Olympics. Unfortunately, COVID had a different plan. Let's watch from home as we always do and avoid spreading negativity and of course COVID.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The opwning ceremony is not even worth televising.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

To me it is obvious. Those world leaders who already got COVID will attend.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This corrupt event is happening because of bribes and politicians self important photo ops. The people running this should be ashamed. Boycott future games

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Japanese people wanted to showcase the recovery after the 3/11 Earthquake and Tsunami by holding a spectacular Olympics. 

Probably just as well then.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Since many years I have always said that a permanent Olympic facility should be built in the Peloponese near Mount Olympia in Greece and the Olympic Games held there every four years. Corruption and waste would be stopped. Good fortune for Greece but why not?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Maybe the other world leaders have bigger hearts to sympathize with Japan and do not want to cause hardship and be blamed for spreading the virus. They want to help Japan and just let the athletes do their thing. They will watch it in tv. They understand the strain. Or they also might not want to suddenly arrive positive and end up in the newspaper quarantined. Very good judgment.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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