The half-year countdown to the Tokyo Olympics-how far is the light at the end?

　　China News Service, Tokyo, January 23. Title: The half-year countdown to the Tokyo Olympics-how far is the light at the end?

　　China News Agency reporter Lu Shaowei

　　On January 23, local time, there was only half a year left before the Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed to start on July 23 this year.

With the arrival of winter and the emergence of mutated strains of the new crown virus, the epidemic alert has revived in many countries.

As the host of the Olympic Games, Japan is not optimistic about the epidemic situation.

The epidemic, or the epidemic, has once again become the biggest obstacle that cannot be avoided or circumvented in the Tokyo Olympics.

　　Regarding the prospects of the Olympics, no matter whether it is a small publication or a major newspaper, their respective "exclusive news" will not be absent.

In January alone, articles from two media caused a storm of public opinion.

First, the online edition of the Japanese entertainment magazine "Weekly Facts" published an article on the 8th entitled "Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled on January 18 and bid for the 2032 Olympics again."

The article said that Japan will convene the National Assembly on January 18 to prepare for the announcement of the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.

In addition, when IOC President Bach visited Japan in November last year and met with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, and Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee Chairman Yoshiro Mori, everyone has reached an oral agreement in private. If the Tokyo Olympics cannot be held in 2021 Held in the summer, as compensation, the 2032 Olympic Games will be left to Tokyo.

　　On the 21st, the British "Times" used Japanese officials as the source to break the news, saying that the Japanese government "privately believes that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the new crown epidemic."

In the face of this heavyweight media, neither the Japanese government nor the International Olympic Committee can sit back and watch and "fire the fire" one after another.

　　The Japanese government issued a statement on the 22nd stating that the content of the report is completely absent. The Japanese government will continue to work closely with the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to make relevant preparations.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike even said that he should protest this report.

　　According to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency, IOC President Bach exchanged views with National and Regional Olympic Committees (NOC) online on the 22nd, once again demonstrating his firm determination to host the Tokyo Olympics.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, chairman of the Japanese Olympic Committee who attended the meeting, revealed that the NOC did not raise concerns about the organization.

　　Michael, the head of the emergency project of the World Health Organization?

Ruian said at a press conference on the 22nd that whether to host the Tokyo Olympics "must be judged based on scientific evidence and the dangers at the time."

　　In view of the accelerated spread of the epidemic in Japan, the Japanese government issued an "emergency declaration" to the metropolitan area on January 7, and later added 7 places including Osaka Prefecture.

As of January 21, the time limit for this state of emergency has been more than half, but the flow of people and newly confirmed cases in various places have not been significantly reduced, medical resources are tight, and a large number of confirmed cases are still unable to enter medical institutions for treatment.

Along with the severe situation of the domestic epidemic in Japan, the Japanese government also suspended approval of foreigners' entry.

There has been news recently that the Japanese government may consider extending the emergency period.

　　Recently, Toshio Nakagawa, president of the Japanese Medical Association, said in a speech in Tokyo that he does not want to talk about whether the Tokyo Olympics can be opened on schedule. The Olympic team alone is not small.

Judging from the current state of emergency medical resources, if new infections appear, it will be impossible for medical institutions to accept them.

　　To control the epidemic on the one hand, while preparing for the Olympics, half a year is indeed not enough.

Regardless of the option of further postponement and suspension, the Tokyo Olympics at this moment is "the arrow is on the line."

The half-year countdown has started, but there are still many problems that need to be solved urgently.

The first is the important ceremonial activity of the Olympic Games-the torch relay.

Japan plans to start from Fukushima Prefecture, the disaster-stricken area of ​​the Great East Japan Earthquake, on March 25, and spread the torch to various parts of Japan in 121 days. The specific epidemic prevention measures and the scale of activities need to be determined.

Secondly, there is the issue of the number of on-site audiences. How to achieve the greatest balance between ensuring safety and on-site atmosphere is undoubtedly a very difficult assessment.

　　After that, from April to June, contestants for each category will be formally selected, because July 5 is the deadline for contestants to register.

At the same time, the immigration policy for foreigners and the safety management of Olympic athletes and spectators need to be discussed. As the epidemic situation fluctuates, related policies are likely to be adjusted accordingly.

　　International Olympic Committee President Bach has repeatedly emphasized, "We will unite as one to make the Olympic Games and the Olympic flame a light at the end of the epidemic tunnel."

But the Olympic deadline is approaching, how far is the end light?

No one can give an exact answer.

(Finish)