Will the next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics be held? July 23, 10:42

The wind is strong.
It has been seven years since the invitation was successful with joy. No one could have predicted such a future. In the "one year before the opening", when we couldn't expect the convergence of the new coronavirus infection to spread, we will thoroughly investigate what the "parties" in Japan and overseas are thinking about and what they are trying to achieve. It was
(Sports news department interview group)

66% of the public opinion “Cancel/Repostpone”

The latest "public opinion" was tough.
When asked by the NHK public opinion poll about the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics event, the following results were obtained regarding the event from July next year.

▼ Should be postponed further... 35%
▼ Should be canceled... 31%
▼ Should be held... 26%

66% when "postponed further" and "should be discontinued" are combined.
As expected, it was far more than "should hold".
The reasons for this are as follows:

▼ It should be discontinued
"Because the global epidemic of the new coronavirus is likely to continue"... 54%
▼ It should be postponed
"Because the efforts of the players are not rewarded"... 38%

World's “real voice”

Needless to say the Olympics, it is the largest sports festival in the world.
How do the "parties" view them?
NHK sent a questionnaire (some online interviews) to the Olympic committees and international competition organizations in each country and region that dispatched athletes.

(Details of the questionnaire)
Target: Olympic Committees (206) and International Sports Organizations (33) in each country/region
Period: June-July
Method: E-mail (some interviews online)
Answer: Olympic Committee ( 19), International Sports Organization (3)
Question: Nine items such as whether there is concern about dispatching athletes, specific concerns, the timing of judging whether it can be held, and whether it will be canceled or postponed if it can not be held next summer.
The answers obtained were 9.2% of the total.

The small number of answers suggested that the fact that mentioning the event was "delicate" and "nervous" in the course of the ongoing infection.
The JOC = Japan Olympic Committee, which wrote in writing the reason for not responding, commented as follows.

Comment from JOC
"Speaking with incomplete information is far from a sincere response to both society and athletes."

Immediately after sending the questionnaire to each group, NHK was pointed out by the Games Organizing Committee that it was "anxiety-based questionnaire."
However, in the answers and subsequent interviews, frank opinions were received.

Judgment of holding Early decision

The first thing I noticed was the "time to decide whether to hold the event".
16 groups said they would be at least half a year old.

(Part of the answer)
▼ up to 9 months before the October
"sufficient time can be taken as a preparatory period for players give the best results" (Slovenia)
▼ until the end of the year
the progress, "the host country and the IOC of the virus There is enough time to watch" (Denmark)
▼ Until half a year before the event,
"It was about this time that the postponement was decided, so the notification six months ago is fair" (Judo)

Some say that it cannot be postponed

Regarding “whether it can be canceled or postponed if it cannot be held next summer ”, the answer was
“15” for cancellation and
“5” for postponement
.
One of the organizations that answered "Cancel" is the President of the International Judo Federation, Visère.

International Judo Federation President Visère:
"We are approaching the next tournament in Paris, one day a day. It will be difficult or impossible to postpone again without completely changing the competition calendar, which has already been incredibly affected. It seems to be

On the other hand, the voices wishing to postpone it were as follows.

"Once in a lifetime for players who have decided to play," (Uganda)
"Olympics hope for world-class players" (Myanmar)

Unusual decision due to spread of infection

We spoke directly to the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
Chairman Teisheira responded to the interview.
Brazil had a Zika fever epidemic at the time of the 2016 Olympic Games. The new coronavirus is now the second most infected person in the world, over 2 million.
Chairman Teixeira talked about the rigors of the domestic practice environment.

Brazil Olympic Committee President Teixeira
"I have to keep practicing at home and I can't even create a long-term practice plan."

Based on this situation, we made an unusual decision.
It is about sending athletes to other countries for training for several months.
From South America, Europe, where there are relatively few infected people, is Portugal. On the 17th of this month, the first team, about 70 players, left Brazil.

It is said that a total of 200 people, including athletes and staff who have passed the Olympic qualifying by the end of last year, will practice on site.
This decision was made with no prospect of convergence. Chairman Teixeira said his expectations for the event.

Chairman Teixeira
"We know Japan is a specialist in overcoming difficulties. We believe we can host the Olympics in a year."

Organizing Committee Underwater quest

As the "specialist to overcome the difficulties", the organizing committee is at the forefront of preparations for the Games.
The investigation of the new coronavirus countermeasures, which will start in earnest from autumn, was underway.
The model venue is the basketball competition venue "Saitama Super Arena".
It was revealed through an independent interview that specific issues regarding corona countermeasures were raised and issues were being identified.

There is a lineup of subjects to be examined according to their respective action ranges, such as athletes, spectators, and media. That number has exceeded 400.
For example, as a measure for athletes, drinks are not swirled in the locker room. In the medical office, we assume an onset athlete and secure a space for initial evaluation and triage isolation.
Acrylic boards will be installed in the media coverage area immediately after the game. It also included an idea that we reporters would not want to hear about not providing a coverage area itself.
For the audience, cashless payment is the only shop. Prohibition of loud support in the audience. Even in places such as "prayer rooms" that are set up assuming various religions, which are unique to the Olympic Games, there were proposals such as considering guidance to other spaces when crowded.

Based on the plan at Saitama Super Arena, the Organizing Committee will consider all 43 competition venues in the future, and plans to summarize the main measures by the end of the year.
The identification of more than 400 proposals.
Some problems have been pointed out, such as what kind of manpower or manpower is required to carry out.
Not all are adopted at the time of competition.
Even so, at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the world's largest event, enormous work and careful preparation are indispensable for achieving safety and security against unexpected infections.
Professor Hiroshige Mikamo (specialized in infectious disease) of Aichi Medical University, who was involved in the development of infection prevention guidelines in professional baseball and the J League, points out:

Hiroshige Mikami, Professor, Aichi Medical University
"The Olympic and Paralympic Games have difficulty in welcoming players from various countries. Despite the financial and physical efforts, to make the "With Corona" era a success To do this, it is essential to make efforts for detailed measures and create an environment, which is the minimum requirement.”

An executive who is involved in the investigation of new coronavirus countermeasures at the organizing committee says.

"There's so much to do, really a lot. But it's not just the organizing committee that's tough. Under corona, as we're working on the unknown postponement of the Olympics, no one has ever experienced it. We're doing a lot of things about the situation.''

We will do our best to overcome the difficulties and provide a place for people from all over the world to gather. Such a feeling blurs.

The two “key people”...

How do you take concerns about the event? I hit two key persons directly in an interview.
The first is Chairman Mori, the head of the Games Organizing Committee.
“Is it possible to hold the event even if the current situation continues?” the
reporter asked straight.

Chairman Mori
"I can not do it if the current situation continues. It is not a problem that can be judged only in Japan. What will the Olympic Committee of each country and region do, and what will the IOC (= International Olympic Committee) judge? Answering this question would be hard, and I don't think this situation will last another year.''

He showed a cautious attitude and emphasized that “the authority lies with the IOC”.
The Olympic Committee of the world who gave a candid “voice” in this questionnaire.
Chairman Mori hoped that "I want everyone to participate."
On the other hand, Chairman Mori suggested that the infection status of "autumn" is one of the keys.

Chairman Mori:
It may be obvious if you look at the situation of corona and see what kind of shape it is in autumn. If you say "This is tough", what kind of action will you take? Talk to the person concerned again.''

In an interview, Chairman Mori also mentioned the “negative history” of the Olympics.
The 1980 Moscow Games. In the midst of the Cold War, several countries including Japan boycotted to participate. Among the Japanese representatives who were the "phantom Olympics" at the time, there were many who did not want to look back 40 years ago.

Chairman Mori
"Western countries decided not to participate, but it was not canceled. Japanese players were also disappointed. I want people all over the world to understand so as not to be like that."

The other "key person" is Bach, who bundles the IOCs that Mori said "has the authority to decide."
Bach extremely dislikes speculative and hypothetical questions.
Even so, it was uncertain whether the tournament would take place, so I decided to ask the question straight.
The first question I heard was about the conditions under which the Olympics were held, and whether a vaccine was essential.

Chairman Bach:
"We've been following consistent principles from the beginning, which is to hold the Olympics only in an environment where all the participants are safe. There is no doubt that vaccines contribute to safe competition. But at the same time we are considering risk management and safety measures. Consult with WHO."

It is a model answer.
I asked if there would be a condition for free cross-border traffic.

Chairman Bach
"The Olympics are a special place for the world to meet. The issue of free movement across borders must be addressed."

Next, I asked if it was okay to understand that the tournament will not be held with no audience.

Bach:
“We have to prepare different scenarios. The obvious thing is that nobody wants an unseen audience. Players, organizing committees, the Japanese government, fans all over the world see empty stadiums. I don't want to

Up to this point, the answer was the same, but I continued.

Chairman Bach
"But I want to hold the Olympic Games in a safe environment for everyone. Take the necessary measures to realize this principle."

The first touch that I couldn't exclude undesired spectators from my choices was the expression of my desire to manage the event.
After this, Bach finally cut out his hands with his hands in front of his chest for reporters listening from various angles.

Chairman Bach:
"Sorry, what can I say about the details of the Olympic Games, which is too complicated in a very uncertain situation? Let us work. Don't ask speculation. Focus on your work. Only then can the Olympics succeed.''

It was the moment when I talked about my heart.
Finally, I heard that Chairman Mori said the decision-making authority lies with the IOC.

Chairman Bach
"I have made important decisions with the Japanese side up to now. When the time comes to make a decision, we will work together to make a decision."

Bach's answer was clear on this.

The world's athletes now

Lastly, I would like to convey the thoughts of one overseas athlete who is the "leading star" of the tournament.
Max Salminen, Nordic Swedish sailing representative. The 31-year-old who won the gold medal at the London Games aims for the second gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

Sweden Max Salminen
"I'm worried about the future because I know that the infection has spread again in Spain and Japan in the last 4 or 5 days."

Salminen, who responded to NHK's coverage one year before the tournament, expressed a calm view that not all players may be able to participate depending on the infection situation in each country and region.
Still, the enthusiasm for participation has not diminished.

Sweden Max Salminen
“I want to participate in the best tournament I can, and it's good if everyone can show their best. However, even if it isn't so, I will seize any chance and try the Olympic Games. I've been doing my best ever, and I'm willing to take the risk if I'm on the starting line."

It would be a representative of many athletes aiming for the tournament.

Once every four years, this time once every five years.
Athletes continue to drive themselves to the limit for "the moment" and gather from all over the world.
Is it okay to call the tournament a "phantom"?
The eyes of the whole world are focused on "TOKYO".