Tokyo (AFP)

A Japanese medical association on Thursday advocated that the Tokyo Olympics be held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus, while a smaller organization of medics called for the event to be canceled, warning of a "catastrophe" potential.

Ten Japanese departments, including Tokyo, are currently under a state of emergency regime due to an upsurge in infections, and this device is expected to be extended again by the government on Friday.

Moreover, according to numerous polls, the Japanese public is largely opposed to the holding of the Games scheduled for July 23 to August 8.

The Tokyo Medical Association, which has more than 20,000 members, has not called for their cancellation.

But its president, Haruo Ozaki, estimated Thursday that "organizing the Games without spectators would be the bare minimum, given the current situation".

Mr Ozaki urged the Japanese government to immediately take tougher measures against the coronavirus, warning it was "the last chance" to bring infections under control before the Games.

Naoto Ueyama, president of a small union of Japanese doctors, meanwhile pleaded for the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.

Because bringing tens of thousands of athletes, staff, journalists and officials from around the world would represent a real "danger", including the spread of variants, he argued.

“Initially, the Tokyo Olympics were nicknamed the + Reconstruction Games + after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami,” but (they) could generate another disaster, ”he said.

His union represents only 130 doctors across Japan.

But other medical organizations in the country, including an association representing about 6,000 doctors in Tokyo, have already called for the cancellation of the Olympics this month.

© 2021 AFP