The torch relay or the opening of the empty field "how to host the Tokyo Olympics" has become a hot topic again
The Tokyo Olympics is less than five months away from the opening, but to this day, there is no atmosphere to welcome the Olympics in Japan.
The emergency declarations in Tokyo and other places have been extended again. The majority of the Japanese people have a negative attitude towards the Olympics. The Japanese government is ready to refuse overseas spectators to watch the games. The torchbearers and Olympic volunteers resign after the torch relay. All bad news is giving the Olympics prospects. There was a shadow.
Although the Japanese government and officials of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee have repeatedly stated their determination to host the Olympics and made it clear that "postponement is not an option", the Tokyo Olympic torch relay is likely to decline the audience and the "empty field" opens on March 25 , Many people can’t help asking: “How is the Olympic Games held?” “Can the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee be able to hold the games safely?”
The chairman of the Olympic Organizing Committee shakes
In an interview on March 5th, Hashimoto Seiko, chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, said in an interview whether or not to host the Olympics, "If everyone is not assured, it will be very difficult to host it," showing that his position has been shaken.
A month ago, in response to the same issue, the former chairman of the Olympic Organizing Committee Yoshiro Mori firmly stated that "no matter what the future (development) of the new crown pneumonia epidemic is, the (Olympics) must be held."
Seiko Hashimoto admitted that the above-mentioned change in position was affected by the results of a poll that most people held a negative stance on the Olympics, saying that “The Tokyo Olympics’ schedule was decided by the IOC plenary meeting in July last year, but if no infection control measures can be taken. The attitude of the people that it cannot be held will become an important factor of judgment."
The results of a public opinion survey released by Kyodo News in February showed that for the Summer Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the total number of respondents who believed that "should be postponed again" and "should be cancelled" reached nearly 82.3%, and only 14.5% of the respondents answered. "Should be held."
Among the respondents who advocated postponement or cancellation, most were worried that hosting the Olympic Games might lead to the spread of the epidemic in Japan.
On March 6, outside the office building of the Japanese Olympic Committee, some people chanted the slogan "Cancel the Olympic Games" and boycotted the holding of the Olympic Games.
Affected by the public's denial of the Olympics, the voices of Japanese political parties questioning the Olympics have also been increasing.
The Secretary-General of the Cadet Democratic Party, Tetsuro Fukuyama, said "it is difficult to hold it exactly as planned"; Nobuyuki Baba, the Secretary-General of the Japan Restoration Council, advocated an extension, saying that "the safety of the people of the world should be the highest priority"; the Liberal Democratic Party's policy chairman Shimomura 3 On the 4th, the TV program directly mentioned the possibility of canceling the Olympics, saying that "If a large number of athletes from major Olympic countries cannot participate in the competition, the International Olympic Committee will have to consider (cancel)."
Postponement is not an option
In response to the difficult situation facing the Tokyo Olympics, there have been constant speculations about canceling or postponing them again in Japan and abroad.
In this regard, Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee chief executive Muto Toshiro clearly denied the possibility of another postponement in an interview on the 5th.
In an interview with Kyodo News, Muto said that the postponement is not an option for three reasons: First, the Olympic Organizing Committee cannot keep the Olympic Village for another year. These houses have been sold to individuals and the delivery has been delayed for one year; Second, consider from the standpoint of athletes. The previous one-year delay has already reached their limit. Third, the schedule of international sports events including the Olympics after 2022 has been determined. Requesting a further extension is only "Japanese logic" and it is difficult to obtain. International understanding.
When the global new crown pneumonia epidemic expanded again in January this year, IOC President Bach once said that there is no alternative to the Tokyo Olympics, saying that there is no need to focus on various rumors, and all that is to be done is to "focus on success, Safely host this year's Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games".
According to statistics, the total cost of the Tokyo Olympics is as high as 1.644 trillion yen (about 98.33 billion yuan), which is the highest investment in Olympic history.
Whether it is postponed or cancelled, huge losses or additional costs are beyond Japan’s ability to bear.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has repeatedly expressed his determination to host the Olympics, saying that "the Olympics will be held as a testament to humanity's victory over the new crown virus. In order to achieve a safe and secure Olympics, Japan will work closely with the International Olympic Committee to advance various preparations. jobs".
From the standpoints of all parties, the Tokyo Olympics can neither be postponed nor cancelled. The next question is how to hold it, and no spectators or limit the number of spectators becomes the main option.
Does not accept overseas audiences
On the 3rd, a number of Japanese media reported that the Tokyo Olympics will refuse to admit overseas audiences, and only allow local Japanese audiences to watch the games, because of the safety of the Japanese people.
On the same day, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Paralympic Committee held a five-party video conference to discuss the audience's on-site viewing of the game and the countermeasures against the new crown pneumonia epidemic.
Regarding the question of whether overseas audiences can enter Japan to watch the Olympics, the meeting unanimously decided to make a decision before the end of March.
Japan’s Olympic Minister Marukawa Suyo said after the conclusion of the negotiation on whether to accept overseas audiences to watch the games, “It is difficult to estimate the impact of the mutant virus. At this stage, it is difficult to predict whether overseas audiences will be allowed to enter the summer. It requires careful judgment.”
According to reports, the Japanese government has discussed whether to accept overseas audiences, and the possibility of refusal is high.
"Yomiuri Shimbun" quoted government officials as saying that because the epidemic is still spreading in various countries, allowing overseas audiences to enter the country on a large scale will only exacerbate Japanese people's concerns.
In addition to preparing to reject overseas audiences, Japan also plans to impose restrictions on the admission of local audiences.
According to Marukawa Zhuyo, a decision will be made on the upper limit of the number of visitors in April after paying close attention to changes in the epidemic.
In addition, as an important step towards the hosting of the Tokyo Olympics, the Olympic torch relay will officially start on March 25.
However, according to Japanese media reports, just before the torch relay started, more than 30 torchbearers, including celebrities in the performing arts and sports circles, have resigned because of difficulties in schedule coordination, physical discomfort, or protests against the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee. Former chairman Yoshiro Mori discriminated against women's remarks, etc., which caused confusion in the torch relay.
In addition to the torchbearer's resignation, a large number of Olympic volunteers also resigned under the influence of Yoshiro Mori's remarks.
Although the Japanese government quickly used two women, Seiko Hashimoto and Zhudai Marukawa, to take charge of the Olympics in an attempt to calm the situation, the domino effect caused by the incident continued.
On the 17th of last month, Shimane Prefecture Governor Maruyama Tatsuya also stated that he would cancel the Olympic torch relay originally scheduled to be held in Shimane Prefecture in May, on the grounds that “the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese Government have not taken appropriate measures against the new coronavirus. ".
Maruyama Tatsuya's statement caused dissatisfaction with the Japanese government. On the 5th, Maruyama Tatsuya also resigned as chairman of the Shimane Sports Association.
As of now, many people on Japanese social media still support his statement.
Japanese media believe that this reflects the fear that the torch relay may cause the spread of the epidemic in various parts of Japan.
Ji Yong, our reporter in Japan