Asahi Shimbun joins voice for cancellation of Tokyo Olympics 2020

36
Tokyo Olympics

Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, who are an official partner of Tokyo Olympics 2020, has become the latest newspaper to call for the cancellation of the games.

Tokyo Olympics

THE COVID-19 SITUATION OF JAPAN IS TRAGIC

Formerly scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the event was postponed in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The games will begin with the opening ceremony on 23 July 2021 and end with the closing ceremony on 8 August 2021.

Due to COVID-19-related concerns, no international guests would be allowed to attend the 2020 Olympics or Paralympics. This includes both spectators, as well as the friends and family of athletes. All overseas ticketholders will be refunded. Uncertainties surrounding international travel restrictions were the main reason behind the barring, alongside goals to preserve the safety of all participants and spectators, and an emphasis to not place a burden on the health care system of the nation.

The Japanese populace has almost unanimously called for the cancellation of the games. The Covid-19 situation of the nation has not improved to a high extent, which coupled with the extremely low percentage of vaccination amongst the population, lead to the games being termed as a catastrophic public health hazard, especially in a nation with a large percentage of elderly population.

THE PAPER, AN OFFICIAL PARTNER, HAS ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER TO CANCEL THE GAMES

“We ask Prime Minister Suga to calmly and objectively assess the situation and decide on the cancellation of the event this summer… We are far from a situation in which everybody can be confident they will be ‘safe and secure.’ Sadly, that is not the reality,” the paper stated, with a subtle insinuation of the Government approach to the games, in a nation in which a large area is currently under emergency. The areas include the national capital of Tokyo, the host city of the games.

Tokyo Olympics 2020, whose official name unchanged due to multiple reasons, if held, shall be the first ever Olympics to be held after a postponement. If it is not held, it becomes one of the few of the games to not be held at all, and the second Tokyo games to suffer the fate, after the Tokyo 1940, which was suspended due to the onset of World War II.

Japan begins vaccination procedures ahead of Tokyo Olympics