tokyo 2020 olympics

Little fanfare as Tokyo begins Olympic one-week countdown

35 Comments
By Sara HUSSEIN

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35 Comments
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Ditto!

22 ( +27 / -5 )

Fanfare?

A dirge would be more appropriate.

18 ( +24 / -6 )

Just call it "The Show That Never Was". Here in Canada, "The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth", otherwise known as the Calgary Stampede, is going ahead completely open. Yahoo!

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Bach, Coates have enough of fan fare to last for a looong time for Japan residents - what more can we ask - as per our govt that is enough as our own govt have given up to take responsibility where the PM asks Bach to ensure safety of Japan residents/population

1 ( +5 / -4 )

We will celebrate the end of it.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

The capital is currently under a virus state of emergency, although the measures are significantly less strict than a lockdown and mostly limit alcohol sales and restaurants' opening hours.

It has been said in other contexts, but Japan never instituting a lockdown was never about the American written constitution restricting the government from having measures to do so.

It was always about

A: Not wanting to deliver an economic hit to Japan Inc. directly.

B: Not wanting to distribute comprehensive subsidies for furloughed workers.

C: Maintaining the fiction that Japan had a uniquely corona resistant society ( which played into wanting to show they were able to hold the Olympics no matter what).

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Agree with all the above.

International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach sparked controversy by reportedly asking Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to consider allowing spectators into Olympic venues if the virus situation improves.

not even a week since his chinese people gaffe and now he says THIS???

Just how obtuse is this guy??

10 ( +18 / -8 )

Love that we all have a down vote.

There is a well oiled right wing machine at work here. So NEVER let up or downvotes influence what you have to say. I don't.

2 ( +13 / -11 )

Among thousands of arrivals to Japan since July 1, only a handful of positive cases have been reported.

That’s sheer impossible, they have of course all 100% those viruses in nose, throat and body, breath it in and distribute it by breathing out. That’s hopefully crystal clear to everyone involved and affected.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Absolutely nothing in the Australian press about the upcoming Olympics about to start. A few articles on athlete's being banned for covid or just pulling out.

Such a shame that these games will always be remembered for no crowds, covid pandemic and being a year late.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Ominous clouds gather over Tokyo on Friday. - Fri, Jun 16, 2021

Little fanfare as Tokyo begins Olympic one-week countdown

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Cumulus clouds gather over Tokyo on Friday.  Photo: AP/Jae C Hong

Meanwhile, did you see the puffy clouds today? A relief to see after weeks of gray skies--despite the heat.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

« Despite the state of emergency, up to 5,000 spectators are allowed at non-Olympic sporting events in Tokyo.

But organizers argue the Games is different because it involves multiple events happening simultaneously, posing a greater risk of crowds gathering and infection spreading. »

Translation: only Japanese fans went to see Shonan Bellmare-FC Tokyo last week, 4,685 fans out of the 15,000 the stadium can host (one third). But there might be foreigners watching the Olympics, so we cannot open them to fans.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Where did the "omotenashi" go?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

My hunch is that Japan, Inc. will eventually realize that these Olympics are going to have horrendous write-ups in most media, with the obvious exception of those who are in the pocket of the government.

However, the horse will have long bolted by that point, so instead the finger-pointing will commence.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Genuinely, feels like we're in prison. But, hey, it is what it is... Welcome to Olympic Games, COVID edition."

If only you had visited Japan after the Olympics you would have been ok

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Little fanfare as Tokyo begins Olympic one-week countdown

I blew on my kazoo! hurray!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Damn these cursed games.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The USA basketball player Bail ( I hope I got his name correct ) is positive to COVID. Bail was infectious with COVID when he and his team play Australia. Tell me this why haven't both teams gone into lockdown for the standard proven heath processor of 14 days isolation ???

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Dumpster fire of mess

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Little fanfare as Tokyo begins Olympic one-week countdown

When we're having an overpriced circus shoved down our throats don't be shocked we're not doing cartwheels about it.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

"We have what we call the prison yard," she said in a video posted on her Instagram account as she walked on a stretch of pavement. "So we can literally walk up and down this stretch between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., and that is the only time we're allowed outside."

"Genuinely, feels like we're in prison. But, hey, it is what it is... Welcome to Olympic Games, COVID edition."

This statement is setting the tone for a future PR disaster.

Sooner or later patience will turn to frustration, resentment, anger and finally prison breaks, with social media on hand to broadcast events globally.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I’m sure the fanfare will be when Bach and the Olympics are outta here.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

My hunch is that Japan, Inc. will eventually realize that these Olympics are going to have horrendous write-ups in most media,

Just wait until the games start and the corporate media propaganda machine kicks into high gear. Tear jerk stories about an athlete from a poor country who overcame the odds night after night. One or two stories here and there about an athlete forced to withdraw because of the virus. You will be be thinking the right way after a few weeks of that.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

British weightlifter Sarah Davies was among the athletes posting on social media about life at the pandemic Olympics.

"We have what we call the prison yard," she said in a video posted on her Instagram account as she walked on a stretch of pavement. "So we can literally walk up and down this stretch between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., and that is the only time we're allowed outside."

"Genuinely, feels like we're in prison. But, hey, it is what it is... Welcome to Olympic Games, COVID edition."

Ms. Davies: You could have stayed home. 80% of Japanese citizens wish you are not here at the moment (nothing personal).

80% of Japanese do not want the Olympics now and prefer cancellation or postponement.....but hey...that is what it is...welcome to Tokyo summer of 2021 edition.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

If the Japan citizen really really want change, then this week would be the very best time to actually get it done. I know for a fact just by asking every Japanese citizens I know, meet, or in the onsen their feeling about the Olympics and all have told me "cancel". the Japanese have to grab this timing by the throat and start protesting. I mean a real protest. Example come to mind that got results and got a policeman in jail for 20 old years. these protest change the playing field and attitude for all the policing conduct all over the USA. It seem by protesting you get results.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nothing we didn't predict 6 months out. Limit testing = limit COVID positives. Now it's coming home to roost and about to hit the fans.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

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