tokyo 2020 olympics

Tokyo doctors association calls for Olympics cancelation

91 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2021 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


91 Comments
Login to comment

Now will They listen?

Canceling an event that has the potential to increase the number of infections and deaths is the right choice.” -

An association of around 6,000 doctors working in Tokyo vs. Olympic officials say it can be safely held with COVID-19 countermeasures

24 ( +27 / -3 )

Shift the Olympics and hold Tokyo in 2024. No logical reason to cancel it.

-25 ( +7 / -32 )

It would be good to name the association or group. I suppose it is not anonymous

20 ( +21 / -1 )

That information has been added to the story.

Expert advice means nothing to Jgov. Connections do.

34 ( +37 / -3 )

Tokyo doctors association calls for Olympics cancelation

IOC shows the (same) middle finger, as it did to the 80% of the japanese population who support the cancellation of the games;

Japanese Government: does nothing (as always).
30 ( +32 / -2 )

Unfortunately Suga's government has made clear it will not listen to scientific advice from the beginning. But at least this will make clear that many health care professionals are completely against the unnecessary increase of risks that the Olympic means for Tokyo.

38 ( +40 / -2 )

Let the games begin. If we only listened to doctors we would all have been hiding in basements for thevlast, and next, year. Let balance and common sense prevail.

-41 ( +5 / -46 )

Now cue the pro Olympics covid deniers with the following:

" The government and IOC did their research these doctors don't know the facts"

" Covid isn't a danger, blah,blah, blah"

"The Olympics are need because people need the entertainment"

"The athletes have prepared for this and taking this away will be unfair to all the effort, blah, blah, blah"

And my favourite:

"The disabled have worked so hard how can people deprive them of this"

I am sure I missed a few but the about will be coming in some shape or form very soon.

23 ( +25 / -2 )

Let. The. Games. Begin. Don't cower and live in fear.

-55 ( +5 / -60 )

Another step in the right direction would be if all medical professionals and hospitals refuse to assist and volunteer any doctors and facilities for the Olympics.

23 ( +24 / -1 )

IOC and WHO and China all agree the games should go ahead.

Doctors and medical professionals don’t.

Nothing to see here, go quietly back to sleep.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

These doctors are taking a serious step forward. However, the J-Gov't and IOC could care less what 6,000 people think. They have already proven they don't care with 80% against holding the Olympics. J-Gov't needs to suck it up and just cancel the suicide mission. Days of being a Kamakazie are over!

17 ( +18 / -1 )

Do you mean “*Collections”: *¥ ? @TomDoley 7:00am

- “Expert advice means nothing to Jgov. Connections do.” -

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Forgive us. We are still ‘making this up as we go along’:

- “At a test event on Tue, top Games offic Yasuo Mori said knowledge gained at rehearsals would be used to update virus(?) rulebooks for athletes & others.” -

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Even if the IOC and J gov won't listen, lets hope the rest of the world is and does not allow their countries' athletes to attend.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

@Scarce

Many of today's LDP leaders are the sons and grandsons of the leaders that implemented those "missions" 75~76 years ago and still don't see a problem with doing it again.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Look, the world needs to focus on something else for a while. Just have the Olympics. Why not? It's not like Japan is covid-free right now. You don't want the Olympics, don't worry, you don't need to watch it. Just stay in your little box until it is over.

-37 ( +1 / -38 )

Let the games begin. If we only listened to doctors we would all have been hiding in basements for thevlast, and next, year. Let balance and common sense prevail.

What nonsense. I have not heard a single doctor suggest people should be "hiding in basements". Their advice has been wise and informed, unlike the covidiot "lets carry on as usual, its just a cold" dropkicks.

Cancel this trainwreck olympics!

29 ( +30 / -1 )

This will go unheeded...none of these guys are Economists!!

13 ( +13 / -0 )

But 280 doctors have volunteered?!?! (Sarcasm!)

10 ( +10 / -0 )

@Aly

Even if the IOC and J gov won't listen, lets hope the rest of the world is and does not allow their countries' athletes to attend.

I have been writing to the U.S. Olympic Committee (I have contacted numerous people there in Colorado Springs) and I only received one reply. The reply was a polite "we do not care, the games must go on for the sake of keeping the Olympic tradition going, allowing the athletes who worked so hard to perform, and giving the world hope". (I added in the we don't care part).

Unfortunately it seems it is not only the IOC and Japan but all other associated organizations.

Regardless of what Suga says, the responsibility lies with the Japanese, or Tokyo government and it requires the courage to clearly tell the world that the healthy and safety of the citizens of Japan come first.

Unfortuately it appears the central government is far to selfish and as my wife's family says, "they do not care about us and never really have". It is interesting as there is a variety of political thought in her family (pro LDP, anti LDP, etc.) and they all seem to agree on this which is something I have never seen.

22 ( +22 / -0 )

Although I have far greater respect for the opinion of doctors rather than know-nothing politicians who would have cancelled long ago had they themselves been expected and obliged to personally take care of the sick in hospitals instead of leaving that onerous and stressful duty to others, the last say still remains with the invisible virus, which probably means yet another year of living dangerously in a rueful Japan wistfully dreaming, shoulda, coulda, woulda .

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Since when has CoVid and emerging variants played by any “virus rulebooks”?

*- "Throughout test events, ‘only a few‘ people tested + for the virus, and we were able to go through procedures at the airport smoothly," he said. *

Meaning: “ We’ll ‘rubber stamp’ arrivals then, weed them out at the venues. “

- "However...there were a relatively smaller # of people, so, we will [still] have to discuss how we manage the Olympics in the summer." -

Meaning: “ We still haven’t figured it out yet. “

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Are they following the science?

Olympians and their contingents will be vaccinated. There will be other barriers in place like testing, social distancing, etc. Many, large, spectator sporting events were held in the U.S. last year (like football), with no outbreaks.

If there is an outbreak in Japan, in won't be because of the Olympics.

-32 ( +0 / -32 )

If Olympics were held in Tokyo as if nothing happens, many athletes would come from all over the world, but If more variant virus spread all over Tokyo everyday, all athletes would run home soon halfway in the middle of the games. That would be a biggest shame for Japan.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

@Happy Day

Olympians and their contingents will be vaccinated. There will be other barriers in place like testing, social distancing, etc. Many, large, spectator sporting events were held in the U.S. last year (like football), with no outbreaks.

Can you kindly let us know which football games in the U.S. attracted 10's of thousands of participants, coaches, support staff, and personnel from literally nearly every country in the world last year?

18 ( +19 / -1 )

At some point, the LDP and other politicians are going to have to admit they were wrong to support olympics during a pandemic.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Aly RustomToday 07:43 am JST

Even if the IOC and J gov won't listen, lets hope the rest of the world is and does not allow their countries' athletes to attend.

The IOC gets 75% of its income from selling the broadcast rights and 18% from the sponsors. By all accounts there is a credible possibility of a US-led boycott of the China Winter Olympics next year which would see the IOC lose vast sums of money. Tokyo has spent at least $15 billion, possibly double that.

It's all about the money.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

Can someone explain me please why the Japanese are not on the streets en masse supporting these doctors and protesting the government? 80 percent of 120 million people must be enough to organize a protest I suppose. We can't blame the politicians only when the public doesn't give a damn either (and no, participating in a public opinion poll does not count)

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Makes good SENSE, yes Japan ahs been very lucky and did well in keeping the numbers of infections down when compared to others, but holding such an event could DIMINISH all that progress.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

IOC and WHO and China all agree the games should go ahead.

No, the WHO hopes the games can go ahead, but leave that decision to the professionals that deal with the pandemic on site, for example the association of doctors in the article. It is clear by now the event cannot be held safely with the current situation, specially because of the almost complete lack of vaccination.

Are they following the science?

Yes, the measures are incomplete and are well below what is recommended for the control of the risk, many thousands of unvaccinated volunteers will be in close contact with athletes, coaches, organizers, etc. etc. and will commute daily to their homes, no quarantine for anybody and up until now not even testing is being planned for them. The supposed "bubble" for the games is meaningless like this, so scientifically it can be said that the event represent a serious risk of spreading of the disease.

23 ( +24 / -1 )

My guess is that the mayor will score major political points by being the only prominent member of the establishment who listens to them.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

J-Gov't needs to suck it up and just cancel the suicide mission. Days of being a Kamakazie are over!

The last day of the Olympics will be August 8th, Nagasaki was August 9th. JGov must never surrender!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Same as Singapore, Burma, China, etc, any country with a one party system, citizens must follow the rulers.

we should try to find some positive thing about the Olympics during a peak of a world pandemic about to challenge the death toll of Spanish Flu.

basically japan is stuffed if it goes ahead. It’s a shame, I love japan.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

In the red corner, the seasoned doctor, university degree and years of medical practice, saying: we looked at the situation and we believe there is a risk of the pandemic spreading further and, by the way, our units and staff are already swamped.

In the blue corner, the random internet guy with zero scientific credentials saying " THIS WON'T BE A SUPER SPREADER", in capital letters to prove his point, and calling everybody and his mother a conspiracy theorist because he wants to be entertained.

I know who should win but I'm getting nervous.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Not sure if anyone has seen what they are constructing at Yoyogi park right now? It’s a huge giant screen viewing area called “live site” for the public to congregate together and view the Olympics with food stalls and seating areas. My question is with the SOE currently on, cancellation of events like Hanami and the banning of spectators, other than honouring promises to quasi bankrupt construction companies what is the purpose of going further down the rabbit hole with tax payers money to construct something like this when it obviously goes against all the promises precautions that have been proposed for these disaster games. You wonder why the public is confused you can’t go to the park fly a kite with your family or have a beer with a friend in the park but masses can gather together to watch pro ping pong or hola hooping there.

stop these disaster games!

21 ( +21 / -0 )

BlackFlagCitizenToday  07:24 am JST

Another step in the right direction would be if all medical professionals and hospitals refuse to assist and volunteer any doctors and facilities for the Olympics.

No more than a anarchic comment - shame on those who upvoted it.

No doctor of nurse who cared about the job that they do would refuse to assist help to those that needed it.

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

GOOD

6 ( +7 / -1 )

theResident

No more than a anarchic comment - shame on those who upvoted it.

No doctor of nurse who cared about the job that they do would refuse to assist help to those that needed it.

So, you are saying that much needed doctors and nurses should be taken away from ill patients and residents who pay taxes including insurance, so this valuable resource can sit around and care to the non-serious needs of visiting athletes for an unnecessary event. All so a few wealthy businessmen, politicians, and IOC members can make some money for themselves.

Not having the Olympics could redirect much needed resources in areas that needs lots of attention at the moment like vaccinating the populace!

19 ( +20 / -1 )

@Breakout - my point exactly!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

In any case, even if the Olympics isn't cancelled, individuals and teams can choose to not participate by themselves

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The test events before the vital Olympic takes would be unholy attempt rehearsals !!

On this fault , the virus infection must go up certain with the Olympic torch really events as well !!

Spectators , Clusters get together in public including other sports events beyond the Olympics !!

Even jam packed the athlete village able to make an opportunity that cultivate the virus !!

At this sene , risky site , some of the medical staff has to hasten for the IOC Organizer obeying under the pandemic !!

Their situation of Covid spread keeps going on if the Olympic July !!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Breakout - That is not what I'm saying at all. Don't put words in my mouth.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

In Yoyogi park , the Olympic public viewing doesn’t agree being made non- spectators for the venues !!

Such the bubble should be cultivated the source of virus , giant screen watching in outside open space area doesn’t meet with prevention of the infection !!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan cannot legally cancel the games, only the IOC can unilaterally "for any reason whatsoever" decide to cancel them.

It's written crystal clear in the contract the former Governor of Tokyo Naoki Inose and the former JOC president Tsunekazu Takeda have signed (page 74).

The contract doesn't seems to specify the penalties but from what I've read Japan is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/hostcitycontract-EN.pdf

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@Pim - I know who should win too. But it will be the Blue Corner that does. You know it, I know it. I can assure you the continued outrage on this website is no more relevant than a grain of sand on a nail.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Why is Japan being so stubborn and difficult about moving forward with this olympic rubbish? They declared certain on high alert and told/warned people to refrain from being in close proximity to other people and stay home and all that razz, but they are holding as big event where people would be in very close proximity with many strangers from different parts of Japan carrying who knows what, but thats ok?

So I guess we're going with the ol "Do as I say not as I do!" card then!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@sir_bentley28 - Think you'll find it is more the IOC being stubborn and the Tokyo Government not having the balls to cancel.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

They urged people to social distance so they should cancel the Olympics?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Tokyo Government not having the balls to cancel

Seems more like they have really big balls not cancelling,

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Another great sign!

Celebrating the「オリンピック終息宣言」.

Love it.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"" Covid isn't a danger, blah,blah, blah"

It is - to the elderly and those with health issues, but its danger has been blown out of proportion by the mainstream media. Focusing on cases over fatalities doesn't help either. The number of fatalities should be focused on, instead of the cases. And last checked, Tokyo had about 80 people critically ill in a city of 14 million.

Japan has done better than many through the general health of the population, and by and large good hygiene and living conditions.

People keep saying look at India. Yeah - rather opposite to Japan's living conditions. That is your answer re Covid.

With all that said, if the Olympics go ahead, they will be remembered as the most boring in history. For that reason, they should be cancelled.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

individuals and teams can choose to not participate by themselves

No they can't and this has been explained many times.

Teams that refuse, individuals that refuse are subject to being penalised by the international organization of the respective sport.

These organisations are those that support the IOC.

So anyone that refuses will find themselves suspended from future events possibly permanently.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

No they can't and this has been explained many times.

Teams that refuse, individuals that refuse are subject to being penalised by the international organization of the respective sport.

These organisations are those that support the IOC.

So anyone that refuses will find themselves suspended from future events possibly permanently.

If I'm an Olympic athlete and I didn't qualify they will penalize me if I didn't attend the games?

In any case it still my choice, I can choose not to participate

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I wonder, is the IOC and JIOC going to allow athletes into the country who come from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and just about all of South America?

Will the medical community clear all of them, without any type of quarantine?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Neither plague, nor earthquake, nor meteor strike will stop the Tokyo games from going ahead.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

If the government doesn't want to compromise the Olympics , then they should speed up the efforts to vaccinate the citizens. It's common sense.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan is in the top 25% in reported cases and deaths in the world. So it's not "relatively small" by any stretch of the definition.

Japan's covid deaths are on par with Switzerland and smaller than Sweden. Stay vigilant and concerned but let's skip the hyperbole.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

The Olympics are passe anyway. Who cares how fast humans can run, swim... how high they can jump, etc. Time to work on exercising our ethics and reason, not our diving form.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

If I'm an Olympic athlete and I didn't qualify they will penalize me if I didn't attend the games?

In any case it still my choice, I can choose not to participate

????

If you didn't qualify you didn't qualify and therefore you would not be at the Olympics anyway!

Wow, I had to explain that!

If you qualified and then refuse other than being injured or sick then yes you can/will be penalised by the respective sports body in various ways, fines, suspension, etc...

You can look it up?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Seems I have to explain sigh.

If I'm an athlete and I don't want to participate in the Olympics then I wouldn't kill myself training to qualify. Need I go on?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Seems I have to explain sigh.

If I'm an athlete and I don't want to participate in the Olympics then I wouldn't kill myself training to qualify. Need I go on?

Yes you Did because what you wrote made no sense.

And yes already some have decided not to go due to the risks all are now under review for possible penalization this includes the entire Canadian gymnastics team that refused to go to the final Rio Qualifier over covid concerns.

You see the IOC doesn't care two bits about the Athletes, if they did the qualifying meet would be pulled from Rio Brazil that we all know is far worse than Japan and few of the Athletes will have been Vaccine.

So the idea that these athletes have a choice is false, it is IOC in partnership with the internal sport bodies that are basically blackmailing the Athletes and their country's governing sports bodies, to either show up or be banned from future events not just the Olympics.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@Do The Hustle - I agree.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Near my place there are two (2) major university hospitals, I what the doctor thinks is a torn tendon but we don't know because both hospitals are not letting anyone in other than serious emergencies and I need an MRI.

My doctor works at one and cannot get anyone in as the hospital is full of covid patients and converting more wards to handle them.

The few small private clinics my doctor tried getting me into are booked solid because everyone having to go to these places instead of the main hospitals.

The neighbouring prefectures told Tokyo they will not reserve any beds for the people coming to the Olympics, so Tokyo has to go it alone, where are those beds going to come from?

The IOC ROC claims they will be testing everyone attending and working everyday that is between 100,000 and 175,000 tests daily.

How? Using every resource in Japan the entire country can barely test 100,000 a day and even that only sporadically.

Nothing the IOC or Jgov says is back up with facts or how they will manage.

These doctors know what is really going on because they are the ones dealing with the covid problem everyday.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Best news I've heard so far!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Can someone explain me please why the Japanese are not on the streets en masse

Maybe you haven't noticed, but there's a pandemic on. The 80% who realise that, and don't want the Olympics for that reason, aren't going to be gathering en masse in the streets. The 20% who either don't realise, or don't care, aren't the ones who want the Olympics stopped, so they aren't in the streets either.

No doctor of nurse who cared about the job that they do would refuse to assist help to those that needed it.

Any doctor or nurse who volunteers to sit in a tent by a track for weeks waiting for an athlete to fall over and hurt himself, instead of trying to help people suffering in hospital from covid, is doing exactly that.

All athletes have been vaccinated and tested before they arrive and tested very day thereafter.

What is the concern?

The athletes getting vaccinated and tested before they arrive is the business of their respective countries. No problem with that.

The problem is that they will be tested every day in Japan, when Japanese taxpayers with full-blown covid symptoms are being refused tests, being told to go home and wait it out. And far too many are dying while they wait.

Plus - the jury is still out on whether vaccination prevents transmission. It may reduce the risk, but there is no proof yet that it prevents it. So you can be vaccinated and still pass the virus on to others who are not vaccinated (eg the vast majority of the Japanese public). Also you can be infected for days before the virus can be detected in a test, so daily testing 'just to be sure' is no guarantee at all the person is not infected.

Plus, 90,000 or so young, fit, folk who have worked their butts off to get to Japan, who are happy travel overseas during a global pandemic and are confident of not dying of covid coz they've had their jabs - you really think they're going to quietly adhere to any 'rulebook' that tells them to stay socially distanced alone in their room when they aren't running, jumping, throwing or swimming?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Test event of marathon in Sapporo at Aug. 5th may have made Sapporo and Hokkaido designated as the state of emegency area and no report whether it became super spreader in Sapporo or not. Doctors and nursed try hard to do their job to protect the people without podium.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Is there an elevated risk from what is already present?

The virus is already running riot in Japan so what difference would the Olympics make?

You're right that it's already running riot, but yes there is an elevated risk.

If people are coming from all over the world, not quarantined, many (possibly tens of thousands, including support staff and media) not vaccinated and mixing with each other, (the strict stuff is for the athletes) the risk is increased.

Also, there is an elevated risk of existing more infectious mutations spreading and new mutations forming, both inbound to Japan, and outbound on return to their home countries. And we have seen that these can become the dominant strain in a country in a question of weeks. The risk of existing vaccines not being as effective on these new strains is also elevated.

If Japan athletes are not subject to the same strict controls imposed on incoming athletes, and are moving around freely, they are increasing the risk of community spread, by taking the infection back to their homes.

If support staff, volunteers, media, are not subject to the strict controls the IOC are trumpeting for athletes, the numbers of people moving around during the pandemic are increased, thus risking accelerating community spread.

If testing resources are prioritised for incoming athletes, support staff, media, volunteers, ditto - it means more untested infected ordinary people in the community are out there infecting others.

If Japan residents are sick, but refused treatment or delayed treatment because staff and resources are being prioritised for athletes or support staff, that elevates risk and can accelerate infection rates.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Japan's covid deaths are on par with Switzerland and smaller than Sweden. Stay vigilant and concerned but let's skip the hyperbole.

According to Our World in Data:

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/japan#biweekly-deaths-where-are-confirmed-deaths-increasing-or-falling

Japan's biweekly death rates are on a par with Malaysia, Botswana, Iraq, Albania, Belarus, South Africa. These biweekly give an idea of the trend.

This same site estimates Japan's true daily infection rates at around 30,000, so about six times the reported infection rates:

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-models

But I don't think any of those are planning to invite people from all over the world without requiring quarantining or vaccination in the next few weeks.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If this is ignored, I despair at what it would take to stop these senseless Games from going ahead during this awful ongoing pandemic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So the idea that these athletes have a choice is false, it is IOC in partnership with the internal sport bodies that are basically blackmailing the Athletes and their country's governing sports bodies, to either show up or be banned from future events not just the Olympics.

Well that's harsh indeed.

I didn't know gymnastics Canada was banned from future events because of not participating in the qualifiers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But it shows nevertheless that everyone has a choice.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Said it before and will say it again. The volunteers need to pull out. It would be no financial loss for them. Without them, the games are finished.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There seems to be a slight misunderstanding.

The idea that those attending the Olympics will all be vaccinated.

This isn't factual.

Pfizer has donated Vaccine but it does not mean that everyone will take it and the IOC and TOC have said not being vaccinated will not prevent anyone from coming.

On top of it the press release says athletes and some official.

There are over 90,000 officials as well as other support staff.

So perhaps most Athletes will be vaccinated ( note up to now most countries have said each athlete will decide if they will be vaccinated so we will not know just who is or who isn't)

Of the 90,000 visiting official, press, support staff, government visitors, etc... Who will and who won't and how many are not Vaccinated will not be made public.

Smoke and mirrors is what is going on.

Again no one seems to want to explain how the IOC and TOC are going to test over 100,000 people a day when Japan using every resource hasn't been able to do that up to not daily.

Using every resource from Hokkaido to Okinawa Japan has only tested over 100,00 a few times.

But Tokyo on its own without interrupting the local population testing is suddenly going to also test 100,000 more daily.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The virus is already running riot in Japan so what difference would the Olympics make - that's my point.

The virus is running riot in India, it was running riot in the UK, the US, Europe etc. In comparison to those examples it's not quite running riot in Japan (yet).... it's bad, but it could be worse.

And the Olympics could make it worse.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

But no boycott of Japan's Olympics? Human rights issues, albeit to a lesser extent than China's, still abound here. The death of the Sri Lankan woman detained here, and the way people are treated when arrested are but two of many examples.

I agree with this comment found on another thread. Cancel those Olympics!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

GAMBATE, we are standing behind U, all.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

what is wrong with these doctors? Of course they will be safe, safer than shopping and riding the subway

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

FACT: The IOC does not care if you die.

FACT: The IOC just want CASH.

As more protest take shape, the bigger the message. Well done this group.

FACT: The games will be A SUPER SPREADER EVENT.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

These doctors should be focusing their efforts on vaccinating people instead of adding to irrational hysteria.

All athletes participating will be fully vaccinated prior to arriving in Japan, thus their presence will endanger no one.

Olympic athletes will be sequestered from the general population, endangering no one.

There is no longer any valid reason to delay the Olympics, the Japanese people are simply falling victim to a form of herd hysteria.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A Japanese doctors' group has urged the cancelation of the Olympics, even as Games organizers reported a surplus of applications from medics to volunteer at the virus-postponed event.

Stop "urging" and begin "demanding". It's too late to worry about being polite.

But Olympic officials say it can be safely held with COVID-19 countermeasures and point to successful test events, including some featuring overseas athletes.

OMG! I still cannot believe they are citing that! You have doctors and nurses who are also "urging" the cancellation - they don't even have a stake in this if it gets cancelled except for a few that left their position to take part in the games as an athlete but there aren't many if I recall? There was a story on a Japanese nurse that did leave her position so that she could train and compete in the Olympics. I feel for her and all the other athletes but you need to look at the bigger picture.

Speaking of overseas athletes, many are opting out because it's the social responsible thing to do. That and many of the top athletes have said that they would very much want to compete and represent their country but want to do so against other top countries and their athletes.

Competing in an Olympic where you will pretty much get a medal just for showing up is not something I would be proud to have. It would be so empty. But that's just me. :-)

The statement came after a separate union of Japanese hospital doctors warned last week that holding the 2020 Games safely was "impossible".

C'mon JOC/IOC - are you ignoring this?!?

Japan's virus outbreak has been relatively small, with around 11,500 deaths, but its vaccine rollout is moving slowly and the latest spike in cases has medics warning of shortages and burnout.

sigh

It's hard for me to accept the statement that the outbreak has been "relatively small" with around 11,500 deaths. 11.5K people who have died from this is not small, IMHO.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's not too late to delay, but there needs to be co-operation and will to do so between the IOC and Japanese organizers. Waiting for the other side to make the first move is not going to work. This is not a blinking contest.

As for those that call for a cancellation, what is wrong with a delay if it means the event can be safely delivered in the future? If the virus is the reason to request cancellation then surely you would be prepared to compromise and accept a delay if it meant a safe event in the future.

If your reason to want a cancellation is due to costs, then fair enough. However I feel some people are using the virus to push an anti Olympic agenda. Should we also cancel J League and all other public gatherings for next 2 years?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites