Due to the increasing number of new infections, more and more experts are talking about the option to cancel the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The Olympics should be considered for high points in the careers of everyone involved. As sad as it may sound: From the current perspective, the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo are more of an annoying obligation. Had it not been for multi-billion dollar contracts and huge investments in Japan, the summit of the best summer athletes would have long since been canceled.
Japan is facing the start of the fourth corona wave these days. The number of new infections correlates with the rise in doubt in the country.
5,000 new infections daily
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Friday the government was considering expanding its emergency response measures to contain the pandemic to other regions of the country. The number rose to more than 5,000 people who tested positive every day this week. In a country with almost 130 million inhabitants, that is almost vanishingly few and the seven-day incidence climbs to a mere 20 compared to Europe. And they rise steeply. Too steep for the meticulously acting Japanese politicians.
The Olympic organizers in Tokyo reaffirmed on Friday that they would stick to the summer event. “There are a number of concerns, but as the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee we are not thinking of canceling the Games,” said Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Organizing Committee. The general secretary of the ruling party had already announced on Thursday that a cancellation was an option if the corona crisis got too bad.
Only one percent is vaccinated
According to leading health experts, Japan is at the beginning of the fourth wave of pandemics. In Osaka, for example, the number of new infections has already reached a record high. Due to the increasing numbers, these experts are in favor of a change of course also with regard to the Olympics.
The games in Japan had already been postponed from last year to this summer due to the corona pandemic and should take place from July 23 to August 8. Health experts in the country have long warned of excessive risks in an event. Another problem is that the vaccination campaign in Japan started relatively late and is very slow. Less than one percent of the population has received a primary vaccination so far.
The population rejects the Olympics
In a recent survey, more than 70 percent of Japanese people were in favor of rejection or another move. The organizers have already decided that no spectators from abroad will be allowed to attend games this summer.
