Tokyo Olympics May Be Cancelled - Shinzo Abe

Japan’s longest-serving premier on Wednesday stated that the Olympics “must be held in a way that shows the world has won its battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” and cautioned that Japan should “brace for a protracted battle”. The PM added that “We’ve been saying the Olympic and Paralympic Games must be held in a complete form, in that athletes and spectators can all participate safely. It would be impossible to hold the Games in such a complete form unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained."

Tokyo confirmed 47 new infections on Wednesday, taking the national tally t0 13,895 infections and 413 deaths. Governor Yuriko Koike of Tokyo reflected earlier in the week that the situation in the Japanese capital remained “difficult” and called on Abe’s cabinet to extend the nationwide emergency, which is due to end on May 6.

Japan has made more than $3 billion in domestic sponsorship, which an Olympic record, and spent close to $13 billion on preparations. it is also worthy to note that the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government last month postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While that tally is still low compared to other nations, critics say Japan is not doing enough testing to reveal the scope of a problem that has driven some hospitals to the brink.

In an interview with Japan’s Nikkan Sports daily this week, Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori announced that the Games would be “scrapped” if they could not take place in 2021. Mori admitted that Tokyo organisers had not yet obtained the consent of the IOC and their Paralympic counterparts on that plan. “It’s going to a considerable cut in costs and a big message of victory against the global crisis, but it’s not easy,”

Also on Tuesday, the head of the Japan Medical Association (JMA), Yoshitake Yokokura, told a news briefing that “unless an effective vaccine is developed, I expect hosting the Olympics will be difficult”.