Opening of the Tokyo Olympics What are the positions and attitudes of each country?

The Tokyo Olympics, which has been postponed for one year due to the effects of the new coronavirus, will start on the 23rd.

It is the position of the major countries that participate.

Supporting the holding of the sports powerhouse America Tokyo Games

The Biden administration in the United States has consistently supported the Japanese government's efforts to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

President Biden's joint statement at the Japan-US summit meeting with Prime Minister Suga in the capital city of Washington in April stated that he "supports Prime Minister Suga's efforts to hold a safe and secure tournament." did.

Even though the infection situation of the new coronavirus in Japan has not improved, Saki, a spokesman for the White House, has repeatedly stated that "our position will not change" and has emphasized the stance of working closely with the Japanese side.

And Mrs. Jill Biden, the president's wife, will attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games on the night of the 23rd.

Behind the support for the Tokyo 2020 Games is the progress of vaccination in the United States, the infection situation has improved from a certain period of time, and there are increasing expectations for the Games to be held. Alliances with and may be heavier than ever.

In addition, the United States is a sports powerhouse boasting the largest team of athletes in the world, and many large companies have signed sponsorship contracts with the IOC = International Olympic Committee, and the TV station NBC has signed a huge broadcasting rights contract, and in terms of commerce. It also has a strong connection with the Olympics.

According to a survey conducted by research firm Ipsos early last month, 52% of Americans say that the Tokyo Olympics should be held even if the infection with the new coronavirus has not ended, and about 2 in 3 people. 66% of people believe that the Olympics will bring unity to the country.

An opportunity to strengthen the unity of the Russian people

Russia has been punished for not being able to send teams to international sports competitions until December next year due to past systematic doping problems.

This time, only athletes who met the strict conditions were allowed to participate as "representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee" instead of representatives of the country of Russia.

For this reason, the use of national flags and national anthems is not permitted, but the athletes' uniforms are designed in the same three colors as the national flag, white, blue, and red, and as an alternative to the national anthem, Russia's leading composer, It was approved to use Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1".

For the players, they will have the pride of representing the country.

However, the fact that the Russian government cannot raise the national flag or sing the national anthem may once again impress the world with the image of Russia.

"Making sports a political issue is still an urgent issue," Putin said at a send-off party for athletes at the end of last month. He implicitly criticized him for bringing up a conflict.

President Putin has been improving his centripetal force by increasing the patriotism of the people.

President Putin seems to want to appeal to the patriotism of the people and strengthen the unity of the people in order to regain his prestige as a "sports powerhouse" while the approval rating seems to be lower than before.

China's largest delegation dispatch ever

China has consistently supported the Tokyo Games as it refrains from hosting the Winter Beijing Games in February next year.

Even as the infection of the new coronavirus continues to spread, the Tokyo Games are showing a supportive stance, such as dispatching the largest delegation ever to be held overseas.

Behind this is the aim of smoothly holding the Beijing Games, which is approaching six months from now, with the Tokyo Games as a momentum.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on the 20th of this month, "China is confident that it will carry on the experience of the success of the Tokyo Games and hold a safe and vibrant Games with the international community." I showed confidence in holding the tournament.

In particular, we would like to raise the national prestige by positioning the Beijing Convention as an event that symbolizes the suppression of the infection of the new corona and the recovery of the economy under the guidance of the Communist Party.

The next fall, the Communist Party have been leadership once the party convention of the five-year human resources is carried out of the plan, as is Xi Jinping Jintao, breaking the convention that "the party of the top is to retire in the second term", It seems that there is also a desire to make the success of the Beijing tournament a great achievement in order to lead to the continuation of the third term and beyond.

However, the United States is calling on each country to "diplomatic boycott" to refrain from the participation of leaders other than the team and government officials because of the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and China is moving in tune. Does not spread or is nervous.

For the Paris tournament three years from France

The French government and the organizing committee of the Games, which are preparing for the next Paris Games in 2024, have been working closely with the Government of Japan and the Organizing Committee of the Tokyo Games even before the spread of the new coronavirus worldwide.

Even when the Tokyo Organizing Committee was postponed for one year due to the influence of the new coronavirus and there were voices that threatened the holding itself, the Organizing Committee of the Paris Games said, "The Japanese Organizing Committee will make an appropriate decision and realize the holding. I believe in it, "he continued to support the event.

The idea is that the Tokyo Games must be held reliably for the success of the Paris Games.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games, and the mayor of Paris, Hidalgo, has expressed his enthusiasm to take over the torch at the closing ceremony.

In various places such as Paris, public viewing will be held during the Tokyo Games to convey the activities of French athletes, and I would like to boost the momentum for the Paris Games three years from now.

However, as the mutant virus spreads around the world, including France, it is unclear at this point how the threat of the new coronavirus will affect the Paris Games.

The Organizing Committee of the Paris Games is expected to use the lessons learned from the Tokyo Games, such as accepting foreign spectators and restricting admission to the venue, to prepare for various possible situations.