tokyo 2020 olympics

Why haven't the Tokyo Olympics been postponed already?

36 Comments
By Eric BERNAUDEAU

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Why haven't the Tokyo Olympics been postponed already?

Money and greed - the two most important elements of the Olympics.

30 ( +31 / -1 )

The IOC and the local organizing committee must not be insensitive to the athletes health and safety. I believe we need note of the athletes and national organizations to speak up.

"The IOC wants us to keep risking our health, our family's health and public health to train every day? You are putting us in danger right now, today, not in 4 months."

-- Greece's Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi.

"I think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity."

-- Hayley Wickenheiser, a Canadian IOC member and a four-time Olympic ice hockey gold medallist.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

¥

13 ( +13 / -0 )

This is insane. I'm a long-distance runner which means, by definition, I keep a long distance between myself and others. But other athletes must compete in close confines. They need time to prepare, and requiring them to do so now is either irresponsible or impossible. Word on the Japanese street is that it should be postponed. It's only the establishment that is inflexible.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Thousand pf people are dying daily, no one cares about your stupid Olympics anymore.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

Why haven't the Tokyo Olympics been postponed already?

It took 300 words to answer that question?

It could have been summaried as follows:

There is a lot of money tied up in the Olympics Games. Without them, vested interests stand to lose billions.

And if we were telling the complete truth, the word "dirty" would be inserted before the noun, "money".

I would also add a final sentence: "Therefore, the show must go on. Screw the consequences".

So:

There is a lot of dirty money tied up in the Olympics Games. Without them, vested interests stand to lose billions. Therefore, the show must go on. Screw the consequences

15 ( +15 / -0 )

How about a Japan wide referendum on the subject?

It is much better than a handful of people whose lives are not at risk to decide...

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Is this a trick question?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Does anyone with a modicum of savvy really believe that by some miracle Japan dodged the bullet?

no testing so less confirmed cases.

simple . All about protecting investment.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Forget the Olympics and start properly testing the population. As I have said many times, human life must be more important than a sports event.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Because the virus is projected to look very different in July ???

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-cases-flu-like-drop-linked-with-high-heat-humidity-2020-3

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Olympics should be permanently cancelled as the whole concept is obsolete. Devote the saved resources to world peace, advancing humanity, environmental causes, and medical research.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"The Olympics should be permanently cancelled as the whole concept is obsolete"

While at it why not cancelling the FIFA, FIBA World Cups?

After all our domestic football leagues are awash with international players, so who needs the WC anyway?

Why FIBA if there's the NBA?

We should also cancel World Athletics and every sporting activities with mixed/multinational teams.

The whole concept of international competition as obsolete.

Then we can all dive deep into a state of a perpetual quarantine, from which we shall never re-emerge.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I wonder if the thousands of volunteers, which actually is unpaid work with strict rules will not show up. They might have to give back their hat and vest which would be so hot anyway...oh well. Life moves on. Cancel the thing.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Look at that poor guy in the photo!!

He almost seems to be praying to the "sacred flame".

He's been brainwashed.

Hey, buddy... it's not the "sacred flame"... it's the "stupid flame"... representing greed, corruption and a disgusting Olympic gravy train.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Jessie Lee: I almost agree. I think the Olympics should be held every four years in the same place as they were in Ancient Greece. A permanent site should be built at Mount Olympus on land provided by Greece and financed by all the Olympic members similar to the United Nations Cities in Geneva, New York and Vienna. However that would not solve the serious virus problem we have this year.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Tokyo Olympics decision imminent, says World Athletics president Sebastian Coe

https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/15234/11961615/tokyo-olympics-decision-imminent-says-world-athletics-president-sebastian-coe

Sebastian Coe is an influential key figure and (hopeful candidate for the next IOC chairmanship) who also earlier suggested that the Tokyo Games be postponed.

I predict that the decision will be announced sometime next week, let's say, before 26th of March when the torch relay program is scheduled to be launched in Fukushima. Postponement may be likely.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@mountaingirl

Sorry to be predantic but,

In all respect people die in their millions every year from illness,famine,war,accidents or old age and they have still had the Olympics.

The reason to postpone would be logistical difficulty /health concern

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The more I think about it, the delay is due to the fact that Japanese officials have been hyper-focused on the games for years and need time to accept the new reality. After years of being singularly committed to a goal it’s taking them time to accept that it’s not going to happen. Once more foreign nations begin calling for a delay, Abe will give it up and work out a one year delay with the IOC.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Good post @Wolfpack The Olympics is Abe's only legacy.

He has always been a nationalist not an economist.

I don't of anyone whose lot in life has improved under Abenomics.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Keep the Olympics in a summer and a winter spot permanently. The degree of chaos and graft is not going to decrease any other way.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The Olympics will be postponed. They are already posturing in the media that they will not be held this year.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I absolutely LOVE how it's a photo of a person praying. Describes things to a T here a lot of the time; claim no to be religious, but pray like crazy when you want external locus of control to save the day! And praying away the virus, as the government seems to want to do, doesn't work.

Meanwhile, I read that Osaka's Matsui leaked a government document showing that they KNOW it is going to get MUCH worse before it gets better. So, why haven't they told people? Because think of how much money Japan stands to lose if the Games are cancelled, let alone postponed. They are doing what they always do... wait, wait, wait, wait, pray, pray, and pray that it just all solves itself without the government having to do anything but take the credit for success. As I said yesterday, better to up and declare the Games cancelled/delayed while they still have some dignity. Any more delays before they delay it and it will be 100% Japan's fault.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This k1 in Saitama today is an excellent test case of effective prevention measures for large crowds. If many people dont get ill sports events etc will presumably resume if people do get ill sports etc will unlikely resume next month.

Whatever your opinion of the risk level, scientificaly without testing these are just opinions or models.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Because Japan is safe. The rest of the world is not. Give them some time to sort things out! Nothing to worry cuz we are all in the good hands of Abe administration!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is what we get when we have corrupt irresponsible weaklings incapable of making a command decisions running our countries. I for one will speak with lawyers today about the feasibility of suing the gov't in case my children get sick as result of the idiotic decision to have our children return to school in April while intelligent nations are all doing online learning for the time being. I suggest all intending to visit or participate in the Olympics do the same.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

claim no to be religious,

Who is making that claim? Can’t say it’s one I’ve ever heard Japanese people make.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why haven't the Tokyo Olympics been postponed already?

Because they are still five months away, and it would be premature to cancel them simply because of panic.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@macv

Save your money, no lawyer would take your case.

Seeing as no single 0~9 has died from the illness and 0.2% of cases are 9~24 year olds the chances of your kids getting sick are almost zero

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@carpslidy I have multiple critical health issues age 68 am a prime candidate even if my kid's don't become confected risk is high I could get hit

1 ( +1 / -0 )

One million + attend the games. 2% have the virus, = disaster.

It is a No Brainer to allow this event to take place now.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Let's end all speculation pls:

"Tokyo 2020: IOC sets deadline for decision on Games amid coronavirus"

"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/51997540"

To all those blaming Japan left, right and centre:

It's the IOC DECIDING, not Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There won’t be any ‘games’ as the risk of anyone dying is not worth the risk...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@macv

Sorry to hear about your health issues. I am sure your children aie taking precautions.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its still a bit cold in Japan at the moment.

The guy in the picture is rubbing his hands together keeping warm.

There aint no way Japans going to hold the games on time.

How people going to get there for starters ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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