China News Service, March 24 (Zhang Aolin) There are less than four months left before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.
A few days ago, the Tokyo Olympics officially "closed the door" to overseas audiences.
After the announcement of this unprecedented decision, the US "New York Times" called out: "This is a major concession in the face of the reality of the pandemic."
On March 20th, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese Government held a five-party meeting and announced that they would not allow overseas audiences to enter Japan to watch the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
For the Tokyo Olympics, which has already suffered a postponement, this decision can be described as worse.
The still severe situation of the epidemic is like a huge dark cloud, which continues to hang over the ill-fated Tokyo Olympics.
More than 600,000 refunds
Expert: Economic losses will exceed 150 billion yen
The most direct loss of not accepting overseas audiences is ticket refunds.
In the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee's plan, the total number of refunds is as many as 630,000!
Although these tickets will be re-sold in Japan after they are refunded, there are only about 4 months left before the opening of the Olympics. A report by the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) pointed out that if overseas refunds cannot be re-sold in Japan, ticketing may be possible. There will be losses of tens of billions of yen.
Data map: The ticket design style of the Tokyo Olympics.
The loss goes far beyond ticket revenue.
Agence France-Presse commented that the Tokyo Olympics "may become the most expensive summer Olympics in history."
With the one-year postponement of the conference, expenses for renewal of the conference venue and new epidemic prevention measures are huge.
At present, the total funding for the conference has increased to 1.64 trillion yen.
As the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee is already stretched out, about 15 billion yen of this is even borne by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
In order to properly "pay back", the economic rebound with the Tokyo Olympics as an opportunity was originally high hopes, but as overseas audiences cannot watch the games, a series of related industries such as tourism, accommodation and advertising will be greatly affected.
The Japanese market originally expected Tokyo to welcome the ambitious goal of 2 million tourists during the Olympics.
Nomura Research Institute economist Tohide Kinou calculated that the economic loss caused by not receiving overseas audiences may exceed 150 billion yen!
Not only that, for spectators, in addition to athletes, the various advertisements on the sidelines of each Olympic Games can be said to be a highlight.
According to an article in the US "Ad Weekly", global Olympic partners such as Toyota, Coca-Cola and Visa paid a total of approximately US$1 billion in sponsorship fees to the International Olympic Committee.
A four-year official Olympic partner may invest more than $100 million in a brand. The question is: "What is the value of a broadcast-only event?"
Data map: People in Tokyo, Japan look at the Olympic rings on Tokyo Bay.
Japan lost its "revival" showcase
Athletes can't hide their disappointment
"It seems that I can't feel the feeling of an international gathering as a major feature of the Olympic Games." This is a comment made by AFP after the Tokyo Olympics announced its rejection of overseas audiences.
Just like this comment, the four-year Olympics is a grand event for people all over the world, and Japan originally valued overseas tourists very much.
According to the consensus of all walks of life in Japan, the Tokyo Olympics is an important opportunity to show the world Japan's recovery from the 2011 "311" earthquake.
As one of the visions of the Tokyo Olympics, the slogan "Diversity and Harmony" also represents the goal of the Tokyo Olympics to realize a symbiotic society.
But since there are no overseas audiences to watch the game, this goal may also change dramatically.
Although the President of the International Olympic Committee Bach has expressed "very sorry" for declining foreign audiences, it is still difficult to conceal the disappointment of "Olympic fans" and athletes.
The US "Washington Post" commented, "For fans who have bought good tickets, and for people who have been planning to go to the scene to cheer for their relatives and friends many years ago, (this decision) gives them perhaps only one chance in their lives. , Also deprived of it."
Japanese badminton star Kento Momota could not hide his disappointment. "There are many overseas fans who support me. Without them in the official game, I will lose some motivation and feel lonely."
Regarding this result, British Paralympic track and field champion Noel Thatcher said, “Athletes will definitely be disappointed if they can’t get the support of their families and fans in the stadium.”
A ticket-buying audience named Blaney even called himself "distressed."
Because his 74-year-old father wanted to watch the Olympics live 40 years ago, he originally planned to make his father’s dream come true this year, but now it seems that this long-cherished wish may never be realized.
Data map: On March 25, 2020, due to the announcement of the delay of the Tokyo Olympics, a countdown electronic screen in Tokyo stopped working and was labeled "under adjustment".
Delays, discriminatory remarks, changing generals...
A "long-term future" Olympic Games
If one word is to be used to describe this Olympics, the "fate" may not be too much.
On March 19, 2020, the torch of the Tokyo Olympics was collected in Athens, Greece. At that time, the new crown epidemic had spread to many countries around the world, but all parties including the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee still insisted that the conference will be held as scheduled.
And only 5 days later, the news of the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics was officially announced...
After entering 2021, the Tokyo Olympics will be more scandalous.
First, Yoshiro Mori, then chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, was forced to resign due to his discriminatory remarks against women in February; in March, Hiroshi Sasaki, the creative director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics, was exposed to a proposal to require actress Naomi Watanabe to appear as a pig. , Causing huge controversy, he himself also announced his resignation on March 18.
In addition, as an important step before the official holding of the conference, the torch relay is scheduled to officially start on March 25.
However, more than 30 torchbearers have resigned one after another, including celebrities from all walks of life such as sports and performing arts.
The reasons for his resignation included protests against Mori’s discrimination against women.
This is tantamount to adding fuel to the flames for the torch relay that is about to begin, and even for the Olympic Games four months later.
The Japan National Arena, the main venue of the Tokyo Olympics.
The maximum number of admissions may be 50%
The possibility of holding behind closed doors still exists?
Although overseas audiences cannot watch the games, the Tokyo Olympics are not "held behind closed doors."
According to the current plan, Japanese spectators can still enter the stadium to watch the game.
According to several sources, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee is currently discussing limiting the number of venues to 50%, and it is planned to be basically finalized in April.
However, Seiko Hashimoto, chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, said that even after the preliminary decision in April, "they will still respond flexibly according to the situation."
Japanese media analyzed that Hashimoto's remarks revealed that if the epidemic continues to worsen, the possibility of holding the Olympics behind closed doors still exists.
At present, although the epidemic situation in Japan has rebounded slightly, it has stabilized overall.
However, with the official "unblocking" of the capital and three counties on March 21, some Japanese media are concerned that the epidemic in Tokyo may worsen again.
Regarding the "ultimate destiny" of this Olympic Games, as the "Asahi Shimbun" commented, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been trying to hold it "in full form," but this idea is no longer possible.
At present, the successful completion of this "incomplete form" of the Olympic Games will still depend on the future trend of the epidemic.
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