Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics 2021 Discussion Thread

thomas · 24 May 2021

Not that it's going to change anything, but it seems Coates got a bit of a backlash over the weekend.

Coates gets backlash after saying Olympics are on, even in state of emergency

If John Coates was trying to stir controversy, he succeeded. An International Olympic Committee vice president, Coates was asked a few days ago by a Japanese reporter at an online news conference if the Tokyo Olympics would go ahead, even if a state of emergency were in force in Japan.…

japantoday.com

Changing the angle of attack and hinting at the extravagance of the IOC, Shukan Post reported that that Olympic organizers have booked all the rooms in at least four of Tokyo's most expensive hotels. The magazine called the accommodations "fitting or royalty" and said the IOC would pay up to $400 per night for rooms, with local organizers making up any difference.

Many of Japan's newspapers are among more than 60 local Olympic sponsors that have contributed more than $3 billion to local organizers. They have been restrained in their criticism, although one of them - the Hokkaido Shimbun - did call for unspecified action from Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Suga has said it's the IOC that must determine the fate of the Olympics. "That inaction itself is forfeiting the responsibility over people's lives and health. Those in charge should take that to heart." The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, which is not a sponsor, called for a cancellation in an editorial on Sunday. "We are in no mood to celebrate an event filled with fear and anxiety," the newspaper said. "The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics should be canceled ... The government must make the decision to protect the lives and livelihood of the people."

thomas · 21 Jun 2021

The first athlete has been tested positive upon arrival in Japan and placed in quarantine on Saturday.

All nine delegation members were given two shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine before their departure, according to the Cabinet Secretariat. They produced certificates of negative test results to quarantine officials on arrival at Narita Airport outside Tokyo. Each of them took two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests within 96 hours of leaving Uganda.

Uganda Olympic team member tests positive for COVID-19 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced that all public viewing events in Tokyo would be cancelled. PM Suga supported this move.

Koike puts kibosh on public viewing events during Olympics | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

The government meanwhile intends to limit the attendance during the opening ceremony to 20,000 spectators.

The spectator cap for the ceremony, which will take place at the National Stadium on July 23, will comprise both ticket holders from the general public and officials related to the games, the sources said, ahead of talks among organizers Monday to decide on spectator limits. The government has said it will allow up to 10,000 people at events such as sports games and concerts in areas that are not under a COVID-19 state of emergency or a quasi-emergency, as long as they do not exceed 50% of venue capacity. The government and Olympic officials are considering applying the policy to the Olympics and the Paralympics due to start on Aug. 24. For the opening ceremony, however, organizers are expected to create a separate slot for officials related to the games, according to the sources. Representatives from five organizing bodies of the games, including the Japanese and Tokyo metropolitan governments and the International Olympic Committee, will attend Monday's online meeting. The organizers however are trying to narrow down the number of officials who can attend, given that the envisaged figure is already more than 10,000.

Japan mulls 20,000-spectator cap for Tokyo Games opening ceremony

The spectator cap for the ceremony will comprise both ticket holders from the general public and officials related to the games, sources said.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Poor athletes!

The organizing committee of this summer's Tokyo Olympics said Sunday that participants will be allowed to bring alcoholic beverages into the athletes' village but only for consumption in their rooms, as part of efforts to ensure the safety of the games amid the coronavirus pandemic. The organizing committee also said it will not distribute condoms to participants during their stay in the village but on their departure, a break from recent Olympic tradition. Condoms have been given to participants since the 1988 Seoul Olympics to raise awareness of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, according to the committee.

Alcohol allowed but no condom distribution in Tokyo Olympic village

The organizing committee of this summer's Tokyo Olympics said Sunday that participants will be allowed to bring alcoholic beverages into the athletes' village but only for consumption in their rooms, as part of efforts to ensure the safety of the games amid the coronavirus pandemic. The...

japantoday.com

Grandpa Frank · 21 Jun 2021

This post on Facebook is getting a lot of comments. Not sure how factual it is.

thomas · 26 Jun 2021

Uncle Frank said:
This post on Facebook is getting a lot of comments. Not sure how factual it is.

I believe BLM is of minor concern at the moment:

The Japanese government said four coronavirus cases had been found among Olympics arrivals from overseas, after two members of the Ugandan delegation tested positive for COVID-19. Tokyo said a French national who arrived in February, an Egyptian in April, a Sri Lankan in May and a Ghanaian in June all tested positive. The public was not informed of the positive tests at the time and the individuals had traveled to Japan for Olympics-related reasons, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Friday, citing the Cabinet Secretary's office.

Two athletes from Uganda were infected with the Delta variant.

Japan discloses more COVID-19 cases among Olympics arrivals, report says - UPI.com

The Japanese government said four coronavirus cases had been found among Olympics arrivals from overseas, after two members of the Ugandan delegation tested positive for COVID-19.

www.upi.com

Whatever the J-government, IOC and JOC officials promise and assure, the population is worried:

Around 86% of people in Japan are concerned about a rebound in COVID-19 cases if the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are staged this summer, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday. The two-day nationwide survey conducted from Saturday found that 40.3% believe the Summer Games should be held without spectators and 30.8% think they should be canceled.

86% in Japan fear COVID-19 rebound if Tokyo Olympics held, poll shows

The two-day nationwide survey conducted from Saturday found that 40.3% believe the Summer Games should be held without spectators and 30.8% think they should be canceled.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Even the emperor conveyed his fears via the IHA:

Emperor Naruhito is quite concerned about the current novel coronavirus infection situation in Japan, the head of the Imperial Household Agency said at a news conference on June 24. "From what I gather, the emperor is concerned about holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which he serves as honorary president, while people are voicing anxiety over whether it will lead to a spread of infections," said Yasuhiko Nishimura.

Source: Emperor worried virus will spread at Games, says imperial agency : The Asahi Shimbun

PM Suga, however, was quick to deny and stated that the emperor was NOT worried.

Japan's prime minister on Friday dismissed claims that the country's emperor is "concerned" the Tokyo Olympics could spread the coronavirus, saying the comments were the opinions of an imperial household representative.

Tokyo Olympics: Japan PM insists emperor not 'worried' about Olympics

Japan's prime minister on Friday dismissed claims that the country's emperor is 'concerned' the Tokyo Olympics could spread the coronavirus, saying the comments were the opinions of an imperial household representative.

news.abs-cbn.com

Perhaps HIH will one day step in front of the cameras and leave no room for interpretation and conjecture.

Lothor · 27 Jun 2021

His father did an excellent job of diplomatically letting his views be known when necessary despite the constraints of his position, and I hope the current emperor will do the same. This is an encouraging start.

thomas · 27 Jun 2021

And as always - not just in Japan - when the top brass disagrees, the underlings get their arses kicked:

Emperor's aide in hot water for Olympic, virus comment

Although Nishimura made a point of saying the emperor never used those precise words, it was clear that he was trying to convey Naruhito's feelings on the issue to the public at large. Nishimura's remark set off a firestorm. Cornered by reporters for comment, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said June 25 that Nishimura had purely voiced his personal views. Others in the government were aghast that Nishimura even inferred what the emperor might be thinking about the Olympics as it could affect preparations to hold the Games that kick off July 23.

Source: Emperor's aide in hot water for Olympic, virus comment : The Asahi Shimbun

Lothor · 27 Jun 2021

thomas said:
And as always - not just in Japan - when the top brass disagrees, the underlings get their arses kicked:

Emperor's aide in hot water for Olympic, virus comment

Source: Emperor's aide in hot water for Olympic, virus comment : The Asahi Shimbun

For once, I'm impressed with the IHA, who haven't always acted in the interests of the family they are meant to be serving, for making the announcement.

thomas · 4 Jul 2021

Comedy gold...

And no mention of Covid-19.

"People who have been criticized by some as anti-Japan because of their historical perceptions and other views are now strongly opposing staging the Olympics," Abe said in a discussion published in the current edition of monthly magazine Hanada. As specific examples, Abe cited the Japanese Communist Party and the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, which called for the games to be cancelled in an editorial in May. Speaking on the significance of the Olympics, Abe said that people being moved together when Japanese athletes win medals and perform amazing feats leads to "mutual confirmation of the bonds between Japanese people." He stressed there was "historical significance in Japan making the games a success as a country believing in freedom and democracy," adding that Japan had "a responsibility" to do so. As for why opposition parties have criticized the hosting of the games, he said, "They probably feel displeasure about the Olympics being successful in Japan."

Ex-PM Abe says 'anti-Japan' people are strongly opposing Tokyo Olympics - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized those opposing Japan's hosting of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in a magazine piece, saying

mainichi.jp

thomas · 7 Jul 2021

Saw this on the news yesterday: a 53-year old housewife (the article below describes her as "unemployed" to make her sound even more suspicious) used a waterpistol to spray the Olympic torch relay with water. Looked completely harmless. Police arrested her for what I understood was disrupting the public order.

Probably her high-calibre watergun exceeded the legal barrel length or fire, erm, water power…

Woman opposed to Tokyo Olympics arrested for spraying liquid on torch bearer

Ibaraki prefectural police said Monday they have arrested a 53-year-old woman on suspicion of spraying liquid on an Olympic torch bearer during a relay in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. According to police, Kayoko Takahashi, an unemployed resident of Hitachi City, used a water pistol on a male...

japantoday.com

AkikoTaka · 7 Jul 2021

Hello
Do you know where i can find a list of the traditional Japanese sports for those Olympics games ?

Thank you for your help

thomas · 7 Jul 2021

AkikoTaka said:
Do you know where i can find a list of the traditional Japanese sports for those Olympics games ?

This is a list of the 2020 Summer Olympic sports programme:

2020 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I guess only judō and karate can be considered traditional Japanese sports.

thomas · 9 Jul 2021

It's finally been decided: the Tokyo Olympics 2020 (2021) will be held without spectators at events in and around Tokyo. The SoE in Tokyo (and in Okinawa) will be extended to 22 August, as will be the quasi-state of emergency in Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa and Osaka.

Ticket holders for the Tokyo Olympics expressed disappointment on Thursday at organizers' decision to hold competitions in the capital and nearby prefectures without spectators due to a recent spike in COVID-19 infections "I'm so disappointed," said 69-year-old Masamichi Tamai, who had tickets for five events, including track and field and tennis. Tamai, who was a spectator at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, added he had been looking forward to experiencing the unique atmosphere of the games again. "They say we're at the beginning of the fifth wave, so who knows what will happen?" he said, "In hindsight, they did it all wrong. I think we could have postponed it for another year, but there was nobody who could plan it." As Tokyo grapples with a resurgence of infections, the government decided Thursday to put the capital under a fresh state of emergency from Monday to Aug. 22. Organizers then decided to stage the Olympics, which begin on July 23, without local fans at venues in Tokyo after having already banned spectators from overseas.

Disappointment over decision to host Tokyo Olympics without spectators

Fans and sports bodies had been looking forward to the spectacle of the games.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Olympic sponsors have cancelled their booths and/or corporate parties because they do not want to be associated with an event "unpopular with the public".

nice gaijin · 9 Jul 2021

Everything about the Tokyo Olympics have sucked since they didn't choose my proposed logo... and well, long before that.

This is a tough situation but it's the result of a whole lot of greed, exploitation and refusal to step back when necessary. The IOC and Japanese government had sooo much time to address the pandemic that is holding up their show, but they've just dragged their feet and hoped it would pass without a concerted effort. In insisting to hold the games despite the state of emergency, rather than directing their resources to help assuage the conditions causing the SoE, it's going to be so sad and weak. They're going to have to spin this so hard to distract from how poorly they've bungled this whole thing, but it seems like they've really soiled their respective brands. In the beginning I almost expected them to refuse to postpone and hold the games anyways, but a full year later with the situation worsening, it seems more like it's going out with a whimper instead of a bang. I feel for the athletes and the injury done to the "spirit" of the games.

In retrospect, I'm glad my design wasn't chosen; I wouldn't want to be associated with them anyways. It's almost embarrassing to have been temporarily suckered into doing spec work for an organization with their track record (rimshot).

mdchachi · 9 Jul 2021

Petaris · 9 Jul 2021

nice gaijin said:
Everything about the Tokyo Olympics have sucked since they didn't choose my proposed logo... and well, long before that.

This is a tough situation but it's the result of a whole lot of greed, exploitation and refusal to step back when necessary. The IOC and Japanese government had sooo much time to address the pandemic that is holding up their show, but they've just dragged their feet and hoped it would pass without a concerted effort. In insisting to hold the games despite the state of emergency, rather than directing their resources to help assuage the conditions causing the SoE, it's going to be so sad and weak. They're going to have to spin this so hard to distract from how poorly they've bungled this whole thing, but it seems like they've really soiled their respective brands. In the beginning I almost expected them to refuse to postpone and hold the games anyways, but a full year later with the situation worsening, it seems more like it's going out with a whimper instead of a bang. I feel for the athletes and the injury done to the "spirit" of the games.

In retrospect, I'm glad my design wasn't chosen; I wouldn't want to be associated with them anyways. It's almost embarrassing to have been temporarily suckered into doing spec work for an organization with their track record (rimshot).

The IOC has been all about the greed for a long time now. Its just that this situation has pulled back the curtains on just how bad they have gotten. The athletes are just there to make them money from the advertising and media rights.

One thing that comes from this though, I bet any host countries that have not yet signed a contract for a future Olympics will be sure to add a "State of Emergency" clause that lets them cancel without, or with minor, penalty.

mdchachi · 13 Jul 2021

And the inevitable racist-seeming misunderstanding based in language has appeared. Who couldn't have seen that coming?

Tokyo hotel apologises for ‘Japanese only’ elevator sign

The hotel said it was working to ‘strengthen internal systems’ to prevent similar incidents like this happening again

news.yahoo.com

thomas · 13 Jul 2021

mdchachi said:
And the inevitable racist-seeming misunderstanding based in language has appeared. Who couldn't have seen that coming?

Nah, that was just a safety concern to keep vaccinated foreign visitors from mingling with (mostly) unvaccinated local residents.

thomas · 16 Jul 2021

According to a French survey, international interest in the Olympics is low, too. 86% of all South Korean respondents opposed the Games, although their motivation may be political.

Fifty-seven percent in the countries, including France and the United States, disagreed with holding the Games, while 43 percent agreed, Ipsos reported in the poll released July 13. In South Korea, 86 percent said they should not be held, while in Japan, 78 percent were opposed. In Canada, those opposed totaled 68 percent while in the United States, the figure was 48 percent.

Concerning interest in the Tokyo Olympics, on average across the 28 countries, respondents were about equally divided. Twenty-nine percent said they were "not at all interested" while 25 percent said they were "not very interested." On the other hand, 30 percent said they were "somewhat interested" and 16 percent said they were "very interested." In China, which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, 57 percent said they were either "very interested" or "somewhat interested." Meanwhile, in France, which will host the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, 68 percent said they were either "not very interested" or "not at all interested."

Survey: Support for and interest in Olympics low in 28 countries | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

Green "agree", dark green "Disagree".

https://www.ipsos.com/en/2020-summer-olympics-perceptions

Lothor · 16 Jul 2021

If politics was a major factor, you'd expect China (another country with a troubled relationship with Japan) to be higher.

This is from the Asahi today. Attempting to retain a bubble between people connected with the games and the general public sounds like a nightmare. I feel very sorry for some of Tokyo's hotel managers.

Olympic ‘bubble’ plan to halt virus leads to chaos at hotels, airports | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

thomas · 16 Jul 2021

Lothor said:
If politics was a major factor, you'd expect China (another country with a troubled relationship with Japan) to be higher.

I think that the Chinese population is much more pragmatic in their approach to Japan than the Koreans. Most anti-Japanese campaigns were initiated by organisations close to the CCP, not by Chinese grassroots movements. Now with Korea, that's an entirely different issue.

Lothor said:
This is from the Asahi today. Attempting to retain a bubble between people connected with the games and the general public sounds like a nightmare. I feel very sorry for some of Tokyo's hotel managers.

My colleague's wife is working for such a "bubble". She's taking care of the Italian delegation. None of the helpers (including herself) has been vaccinated and she said she's living in constant fear of being infected. They are PCR-tested two or three times a day.

And here's my question: why sending millions of vaccine doses to the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam when many of the domestic volunteers and the Olympic staff haven't been inoculated yet? It doesn't make sense.

Davey · 16 Jul 2021

thomas said:
And here's my question: why sending millions of vaccine doses to the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam when many of the domestic volunteers and the Olympic staff haven't been inoculated yet? It doesn't make sense.

I have been wondering that as well for a while... Same as for Japan giving out huge loans to countries while it's citizens are the ones that need that money..

The olympics won't be cancelled anymore so I really hope the athletes will be able to make the best of it, even though they are sleeping on cardboard boxes...

Trying to be positive in a way, I mean it's the olympics!!!!! Something I and many others love, but it's really hard to feel excited for it's this time...

Lothor · 21 Jul 2021

This is quite disturbing - second vaccinations apparently being intentionally delayed for volunteers to avoid the possibility that they might have to take time off to recover from side effects.

Tokyo Is Insanely Deploying an Army of Half-Vaccinated Staffers to the Olympics

It all started with a shocking email sent to Olympic staffers last month.

www.thedailybeast.com

Lothor · 21 Jul 2021

Uncle Frank said:
This post on Facebook is getting a lot of comments. Not sure how factual it is.

View attachment 46772

The British women's football team is planning to take the knee - it's been a very big thing with the English football team, despite the opposition of some of the fans, whose black players have received a lot of racist abuse - and I'm sure that it will be done with the tastefulness and dignity of the English men's team. Regarding the post, I think it's the IOC who makes the rules on this, rather than Japan, and they have made no objection.

thomas · 21 Jul 2021

Two more days until the Olympic inauguration ceremony and the negative headlines ('No-Fun Olympics') prevail. IOC chairman Bach, not exactly the most popular figure in Japan these days, urged the Japanese "to support the Olympics", with moderate support. Yesterday, for the first time, he admitted having "sleepless nights" over the event.

The best Olympic barometer seem to be the sponsors, and there's no good news on that front:

Tokyo 2020 sponsor Toyota withdraws Games TV commercials due to lack of support

Some 60 corporations face a dilemma of whether or not to tie their brands to an event that has so far failed to win strong public backing.

www.japantimes.co.jp
Japanese continue to be sceptical that the Olympics can be held safely (as promised by PM Suga and Bach):

Survey: 68% doubt Tokyo Olympics can be held safely | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com
So far, 71 cases of Olympics-related infections have been reported, despite assurances that the Olympic Village was safe:

Olympic Village safe place to stay, Games organizers insist

Tokyo Games organizers insisted Monday that the Olympic Village is "a safe place to stay", as fears of a coronavirus cluster emerged just days before the opening ceremony. Two South African soccer players and a video analyst tested positive for the coronavirus at the Village, organizers...

japantoday.com
The composer of the Olympic theme song, Oyamada Keigo, aka Cornelius, has quit the Olympic opening ceremony role over past bullying:

Keigo Oyamada quits Olympic opening ceremony role over past bullying

The 52-year-old musician's resignation, coming just before Friday's opening ceremony, is the latest scandal to beset the Games.

www.japantimes.co.jp
The US women gymnastics team has left the Olympic Village over safety concerns:

US women’s gymnastics team bolts Olympic Village as COVID worries grow

On Monday, Kara Eaker, an alternate on the team, became the first known COVID-19 case amongst U.S. Olympians.

nypost.com

And in case anyone cares, the first Olympic events will be held today:

Football Women's tournament Group E Japan vs Canada (19:30)
Softball Women's tournament Opening Round Australia vs Japan (09:00)

bentenmusume · 21 Jul 2021

The composer of the Olympic theme song, Oyamada Keigo, aka Cornelius, has quit the Olympic opening ceremony role over past bullying.

Allow me to get on my soapbox again regarding this particular recent development.

While the full body of the article is far more enlightening (as well as disturbing; read it at your own risk if you're easily traumatized), I just have to say that I'm very frustrated with headlines and sound bites that refer to this simply as "(past) bullying", or Japanese news stories likewise glossing over it as ijime (though again, many of the news programs have done a fine job covering/criticizing it in depth).

"Past bullying" kind of makes it sound like it came to light that he called a classmate some names back in junior high and is now being forced to pay the price decades later.

It would be more accurate to say that he stepped down (or, it seems now, was forced or at least strongly encouraged to by the Japanese government) over the revelation that he had not only physically, psychologically and sexually tortured and abused disabled classmates as a high schooler, but had bragged, joked about it, and laughed it off on multiple occasions even long after becoming a successful adult, not even showing one ounce of regret or remorse until issuing a form-letter apology on Twitter after an old magazine interview resurfaced this week in light of his role in the Olympic ceremony.

On a personal note, this one was pretty rough for me, as I genuinely like this guy's music and had/have a ton of respect for his talent as a composer. It was very hard (and still is) for me to accept that someone who has composed such beautiful songs could be such a psychopathic monster.

Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics 2021 Discussion Thread

What is your take: should the Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympics be held in 2021 or not?

Yes, they should go ahead as scheduled (July 2021).

No, they should be cancelled for good.

They should be held but scaled down.

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Emperor's aide in hot water for Olympic, virus comment

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