Not just COVID: Earthquakes, typhoons pose threat at Tokyo Olympics

Is this somehow supposed to make us normalize the pandemic?

To make us equate uncontrollable natural disasters with ones that are if not man-made, then at least greatly exacerbated by government ineptitude?

As if we should think “oh right, COVID, typhoons, it’s all しょうがない”

Seems kind of odd considering all the disaster emergency notification apps are fully in Japanese.

Visitors and those who don't speak Japanese would just be in the dark trying to decypher what is going on.

This photo is just what.

Moderator: An earthquake drill.

The heat might be a bigger risk, and should be on the list.

Don't forget high temperature and heatwave. Before the pandemic it was the primary concern for the Tokyo Games (resulting in relocating marathon north to Hokkaido). Unlike an earthquake, it could have been avoided. The period was kept intact due to the request of NBC, an American media outlet and biggest sponsor. Thinking back, the IOC's high-handed approach and pro-business favoritism were already seen.

I agree with Cricky. The heat and humidity at this time of year is just crazy in Japan, it's the stupidest season to stage an event, october would be perfect.

And volcanic activity.

That photo shows us a high-tech state of the art facility that probably cost hundreds of millions of Yen whose task is to teach people how to bend over and hold a pillow on their head.

Anywhere else in the world this task could be accomplished by simply telling people "Hey, just bend over and hold a pillow over your head" without the need for the super ultra high tech facility.

This photo is just what

In case of earthquake, cover or protect your head with a bag or hide underneath a desk.

If Mother Nature can’t get through the IOC and the government, then nothing will and they will suffer and have to live with the consequences.

I forgot to add that unless you have been living in Japan or nearby, they might not know that this is an early rainy season, followed by typhoons, as we’ve been going through. According to the weather forecast, we’re in for more rain for the next week or so.

Also "heat" awaits. As soon as the rainy season ends, sweltering summer will assault them.

"Kenji, Shinji and Genji weren't totally convinced of the new methods for the Javelin umpires but nevertheless took to the training like fish in a barrel.."

And FWIW, the Athletes Village doesn't look very tsunami-proof anyway yo ..

If there were earthquakes and tsunamis, the Games would go on. That's the point of this article.

Tokyo 2020 says it has contingency plans for various natural disasters, "prioritizing the safety of spectators and people involved", though they declined to offer further details.

I'd have thought it would be a good idea to share these contingency plans - that way all those involved will know what to expect. The alternative could be a very chaotic situation where everyone is scurrying around trying to work out whats happening.

If the opening ceremony gets an intense torrential rain and hail storm like we had yesterday, that would be interesting.

The 2020(1) Tokyo Olympics have served one useful purpose, they have highlighted the self serving greed and total disinterest in the wellbeing of athletes, spectators or anyone else of the IOC in a way nothing else possibly could. I am truly sorry that the Japanese people have been lumbered with this expensive white elephant, but the best result would be for it to be an unmitigated disaster so that no other city or country will allow its vainglorious leaders to puff up their overblown egos by hosting another Olympics managed by the corrupt IOC.

rainyday

That photo shows us a high-tech state of the art facility that probably cost hundreds of millions of Yen whose task is to teach people how to bend over and hold a pillow on their head.

Anywhere else in the world this task could be accomplished by simply telling people "Hey, just bend over and hold a pillow over your head" without the need for the super ultra high tech facility.

The thing they're on is probably also shaking, to imitate a quake.

I actually really recommend everyone to visit one of these facilities, like the Sona Area in Ariake. Thrilling and exciting, but also a little bit scary, and very educational. Free entry.

I agree with Cricky. The heat and humidity at this time of year is just crazy in Japan, it's the stupidest season to stage an event,

makes sense to me if Japan wants the most gold medal host the game when it’s the most humidity hot. Japanese athletes are trained in such conditions I bet they have the advantage. I guess we will find out once the games begins

The heat might be a bigger risk, and should be on the list.

Everybody, repeat after me:

“Atsui, ne?”

That’s even more hyper panicking. Look, they wouldn’t have given the games to Tokyo if there were statistically relevant risks of that sort. Do you think that elite and money mafia is suicidal? The only unexpected hurdle is that corona pandemic and even that they don’t care about and put enormous pressure on the whole country and the government.

So are they now saying what we've been saying for years? "Japan is not a safe place to hold Olympics"

Perhaps someone in government should read JT's reader's comments. We are after all on the front line of life.

What a stupid article. You might as well argue that lightening, crossing the road and our neighbourly North Koreans pose a risk to daily life as well.

I agree the article is kind of stupid. If I were to take this seriously I would close the business and move out of Japan tomorrow. Maybe an asteroid will hit?

However I do not take this seriously.

There are reasonable concerns and then there is taking it to the next level (like this article) which is a bit ridiculous.

the Olympic Village, are built on embankments or protected by sea walls that can withstand a tsunami of almost two meters

Wow, how little you remember...

The j-gov just sub-contracted the Hato Bus to do guided tours for the Athletes.

It's gonna be all over the news tomorrow.

As the title mentioned, these are so many risk factors of holding any big sized international events in Japan. Sometimes it’s a partial failure like the World Cup rugby ( a few matches being cancelled and a few games not being sold out to full capacity as it might have in other rugby loving nations ), while other times it might just be in tatters if any of the disaster happens. Japan is disaster prone at a really much higher level than other countries. Of course all countries can be hit by natural disasters at anytime but the risk factor in Japan is higher. The international sporting bodies who grant host city / nation status after bids should also take this into consideration before choosing Japan. Due to lack of space around major cities in Japan, by choosing Japan as host nations they put millions of life’s at risk ( athletes, sports players, officials, as well as local people ). Imagine a major earthquake sending tsunami towards downtown Tokyo during the Olympics! The crowds due to the Olympics will make it difficult for people to escape quickly and millions will die! But most international sporting bodies are corrupt and know that there is money to be made in Japan so they will continue to use Japan as the host.

There is a disaster occurring already: The economic and health disaster caused by the Japanese Government not taking appropriate measures to control COVID-19 even with over a year prior knowledge. They failed to expedite the rollout of vaccinations to be completed before the Olympics. All the risks mentioned in the article are real but they are mostly mitigated by the fact that almost no one will be attending the Olympics (save the athletes, officials, and event staff).

Its good to be prepared.

Richard BurganToday  12:15 am JST

There is a disaster occurring already: The economic and health disaster caused by the Japanese Government not taking appropriate measures to control COVID-19 even with over a year prior knowledge. They failed to expedite the rollout of vaccinations to be completed before the Olympics. All the risks mentioned in the article are real but they are mostly mitigated by the fact that almost no one will be attending the Olympics (save the athletes, officials, and event staff).

Seems you are putting ALL the blame on Japan. Let's not forget where this all originated from. Only one country to blame for this mess around the world. Take a look at Worldometer COVID-19 stats and see which ONE country has been flatlined since February 2020.

Moderator: An earthquake drill.

I get that lol