Tokyo makers reveal doubts: the slow death of the Olympic Games


Tokyo makers reveal doubts
The slow death of the Olympics

Despite the pandemic, the Olympic Games will take place. This is how the makers in Japan and the IOC communicate it vehemently. Until now. In Tokyo, 10,000 volunteers have jumped out, hospitals are busy, the population is fighting. For the first time, doubts are voiced by those responsible.

For the first time, the organizers of the Olympic Games and Paralympics in Tokyo have abandoned their dogmatic determination to hold the spectacle. 50 days before the planned opening ceremony of the summer games in Japan’s capital (July 23 to August 8), OC boss Seiko Hashimoto made the participation of a majority of countries a condition for hosting the major events.

In addition, the managing director of the OK reported that there was a massive waiver of volunteers. According to Toshiro Muto, around 10,000 of the 80,000 volunteers scheduled at the venues have given up their jobs.

“If many nations from around the world get into serious situations and the delegations cannot come, we would not be able to hold the Olympics,” said Hashimoto. The 56-year-old made it clear at the same time: “Until such a situation occurs, the games will not be canceled.” However, there is currently no sign of such a trend.

“Olympic Games never come first”

The Olympic organizers of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and in Japan had strictly adhered to the games postponed to the upcoming summer in 2020 due to the corona pandemic. At no time did the decision-makers grant the possibility of a renewed rejection.

Almost a month ago, only Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga raised doubts about the implementation of the Olympic plans. In parliament, the head of government gave the security of the population clear priority over organizing the Olympic competitions in view of the continued serious corona situation in the country: “For me, the Olympic Games were never the top priority.”

Japan continues to fight vehemently against the fourth wave of the corona pandemic. The number of vaccinations lags far behind with only a good three percent of fully vaccinated residents compared to other industrialized nations. Due to the sometimes devastating conditions, a large part of the Japanese population is against hosting the games. Opponents of the Olympic Games are putting pressure on them with petitions, the medical association has spoken out against the staging of the summer games, as has the major daily “Asahi Shimbun”, which is itself an official partner of the major event.

On Thursday, Hashimoto emphasized her hope for a change in mood through the intended increase in the rate of vaccinations. “We hear from more and more people that the Olympics should be able to take place if the vaccination rate would increase,” said the former Olympic participant.

Hashimoto did not explicitly address the failure of the 10,000 volunteers. However, Toshiro Muto had already shown himself to be unimpressed by this last Wednesday. The reduced number of helpers would have no impact on the processes of the games, because the scope of the event itself has also been reduced.

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