Even if the opening ceremony is scheduled to be held later this week, the status of the Tokyo Olympics is still a point of contention. As the number of coronavirus cases in Japan continues to rise, people still believe that the Olympics should not be held this summer.
The surge in COVID-19 cases puts Tokyo in trouble State of emergency Until August 22, which is two weeks after the closing ceremony on August 8. Spectators are prohibited from participating in all events. Toshiro Muto, chief executive of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, said that the possibility of last-minute cancellation is not entirely impossible.
“We cannot predict what will happen to the number of coronavirus cases. Therefore, if the number of cases surges, we will continue to discuss,” Muto said at a meeting. Press conference on Tuesday.
“We have agreed that, depending on the situation of the coronavirus, we will hold the five-party talks again. At this time, the number of coronavirus cases may increase or decrease, so we will consider what to do when something happens.”
This year’s Olympics are very unpopular in Japan. Polls In the past two months, more than three-quarters of people living in the country did not want Tokyo to host this event.
Approximately 11,000 athletes from all over the world are expected to stay in the Tokyo Olympic Village. Multiple athletes A few days before the start of the Olympics, the village tested positive for COVID-19.
It is very likely that despite any concerns, the Olympics will continue. The pandemic has postponed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for one year, and a further postponement will have a huge financial impact.
2013-2016 Sochi Winter Olympics and 2016 Rio Summer Olympics $5.7 billion generated Income of the International Olympic Committee. Approximately 73% of revenue comes from broadcasting rights.
There are less than seven months to go before the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The contract between the International Olympic Committee and the city of Tokyo only gives the International Olympic Committee the option to cancel the Olympics. If the IOC “has reasonable grounds to believe that the safety of Olympic participants will be seriously threatened”, the IOC can terminate the contract. According to the BBC.
During the Olympic Games, Olympic athletes have a very low risk of serious illness due to COVID-19.
The International Olympic Committee expects More than 80% Participants are vaccinated. No country has a population vaccination rate of more than 71%, “New York Times” report. In the United States, less than half of people are vaccinated.
Only 22% of the Japanese population is fully vaccinated.
Have limit About where athletes, coaches and members of the media can go. Those who go to Japan to participate in the Olympic Games are only allowed in the village, designated hotels or competition venues. Athletes should wear masks when they come in contact with others off the court, except when eating or being interviewed.
“The numbers we see are actually very low,” Brian McCloskey, chair of the independent expert panel that advises the International Olympic Committee, told reporters about 61 positive cases related As of Tuesday, Monday’s game. “If anything, they may be lower than our expectations.”
The opening ceremony is still scheduled to be held on Friday.
Photo: AFP/Philip FONG
