Tokyo 2020 News - General

[Quaker2001]

5 hours ago, ashelybrown said:

I really think the Tokyo Games should be cancelled, or at least postponed as some reported to be an option.

First, Covid situation is still uncertain in Japan which might rise again in the coming months. Safety concerns for the athletes, media and locals.

Secondly, it is not going to feel the same without international supporters and socially distances spectators. 

Thirdly, I suspect for many athletes, they won't be able to train in their 100% capacity due to the various lockdowns which is also unfair to athletes from countries where lockdown restrictions are more harsh. Hence this Games will not see athletes compete to their best ability. 

Lastly, I don't think the world is in the mood to follow the Games to be honest when we are still fighting this pandemic. I for one couldn't care less about the Olympics now. We need to get this crisis over before the world can come together again.

You're in the wrong place if you're trying to make that case.

As Triplecast noted, postponement is not an option.  Either the Olympics happen as scheduled this summer or they won't happen at all.  There's no alternative at this point.

Yes, there are COVID concerns.  Yes, it will lack the usual pomp and circumstance.  Yes, it will be a somewhat uneven playing field.  My response to all that.. so what?  Sports are being played all over the world now, including in Japan where professional baseball is going on with fans in attendance.  If the option is an Olympics that won't seem normal and not having an Olympics, I know which of those 2 I'd chose.

I can't speak for the mood of the world and we all know the Japanese public's resistance to the event.  But this isn't a first for there to be negativity and concern and doubt in the lead up to an Olympics.  A lot of that will go away when the Games start.  And a lot of people that don't want to hear about COVID will instead get to see the athletes on display.  I can imagine a lot of people will welcome that and very much be into it.

[MisterSG1]

But why does it have to be a binary ending, either host a lacklustre depressing games or cancel them?

Do further games HAVE to happen on time. Suppose they were pushed back to next summer, are you going to argue that they will take away from the lustre that the Paris games should have in 2024? 
 

Why can’t for example, the games be pushed to 2022, and Beijing pushed to 2024 creating a double dose year like we used to have in 1992 and years past. I don’t think any complained about the Winter Olympics being watered down by having games just two years apart in Albertville and Lillehammer.

Factor in also that the general public doesn’t exactly portray the IOC in a positive light. The insistence of the IOC to railroad an Olympics in such unprecedented times will lead to public backlash against the Olympics. Yes, the same IOC where Beijing, Paris, and Los Angeles got their Olympics because no one else wanted to play with the IOC.

I want the Olympic movement to continue, but it needs a massive shakedown in how it does things. My closest to ever attending something like an Olympics was the 2015 Pan American Games here, and it was an enjoyable time where I went to many of the events. It would absolutely be a shame to have such excitement and preparation to hold an Olympics that no one can watch there.

[ulu]

Why would Beijing be pushed back to 2024? Also the Commonwealth Games happen in July 2022.

[Quaker2001]

2 hours ago, MisterSG1 said:

But why does it have to be a binary ending, either host a lacklustre depressing games or cancel them?

Do further games HAVE to happen on time. Suppose they were pushed back to next summer, are you going to argue that they will take away from the lustre that the Paris games should have in 2024? 
 

Why can’t for example, the games be pushed to 2022, and Beijing pushed to 2024 creating a double dose year like we used to have in 1992 and years past. I don’t think any complained about the Winter Olympics being watered down by having games just two years apart in Albertville and Lillehammer.

Factor in also that the general public doesn’t exactly portray the IOC in a positive light. The insistence of the IOC to railroad an Olympics in such unprecedented times will lead to public backlash against the Olympics. Yes, the same IOC where Beijing, Paris, and Los Angeles got their Olympics because no one else wanted to play with the IOC.

I want the Olympic movement to continue, but it needs a massive shakedown in how it does things. My closest to ever attending something like an Olympics was the 2015 Pan American Games here, and it was an enjoyable time where I went to many of the events. It would absolutely be a shame to have such excitement and preparation to hold an Olympics that no one can watch there.

Yes, further games HAVE to happen on time.  And yes, that will 100% take away from the luster that the Paris games should have in 2024.

There's a reason host cities are announced 7 years in advance (sometime more).  They need all that time for prep and planning to properly execute the Olympics.  Obviously what's happening now with Japan is completely unprecedented.  But it's way too late at this point to have Japan postpone for another year.  Too costly and logistically might not even be possible.

Then you have Beijing.. how is the IOC supposed to tell them 8 months out from their Olympics that they need to push back 2 years.  Did you consider what that is asking of them or are you just assuming they'll be okay with taking that hit to help out Japan?

Yes, the IOC is in a bad spot right now, but the aftermath will determine their fate, not the usual fear-mongering that imagines the worst and assumes it will happen.  If the Olympics worsen the pandemic, it will be a terrible look for the IOC.  If it doesn't worsen the pandemic, then the IOC has a good argument to make that they knew what they were doing.  Of course, as soon as Tokyo ends, then it will bring all the issues that come with another Olympics in China to light.

I agree the IOC needs major reforms.  But you need practical solutions for that.  Talking about holding the Beijing Olympics in 2024 is anything but practical.  It goes without saying at this point that all of this is extremely unfortunate timing for Japan and will likely sour them on the Olympics for decades to come.  But asking 2 other Olympics hosts to suffer on their behalf is not how to fix this problem.

[Victorian]

3 hours ago, MisterSG1 said:

But why does it have to be a binary ending, either host a lacklustre depressing games or cancel them?

Do further games HAVE to happen on time. Suppose they were pushed back to next summer, are you going to argue that they will take away from the lustre that the Paris games should have in 2024? 
 

Why can’t for example, the games be pushed to 2022, and Beijing pushed to 2024 creating a double dose year like we used to have in 1992 and years past. I don’t think any complained about the Winter Olympics being watered down by having games just two years apart in Albertville and Lillehammer.

Factor in also that the general public doesn’t exactly portray the IOC in a positive light. The insistence of the IOC to railroad an Olympics in such unprecedented times will lead to public backlash against the Olympics. Yes, the same IOC where Beijing, Paris, and Los Angeles got their Olympics because no one else wanted to play with the IOC.

I want the Olympic movement to continue, but it needs a massive shakedown in how it does things. My closest to ever attending something like an Olympics was the 2015 Pan American Games here, and it was an enjoyable time where I went to many of the events. It would absolutely be a shame to have such excitement and preparation to hold an Olympics that no one can watch there.

Yes they do have to.

The games cannot be further pushed back for multiple reasons. Securing the venues again will be a major headache. Most of the venues would already be booked. The IOC were lucky they were able to get the venues again in 2021 but 2022 they won't be as lucky.

This is unfortunate for Japan I understand and I think the IOC will keep this in mind when awarding the 2030 Winter Olympics. I am favouring the Japanese bid as compensation for missing out on the usual hype of the Olympics this year.

This is unfortunate but future hosts should not have to suffer because of this. Again, future hosts will then need to secure venues which might not be possible.

Another reason that they won't push future games back is because then you will have the Olympics competing against the FIFA World Cup. If you push Tokyo into 2022, they will be competing against the World Cup, Commonwealth Games plus the already rescheduled world championships for various sports. They need to do everything possible to get the games underway this year whether there are fans in attendance or not.

[Victorian]

In response for those asking for the games to be cancelled. This is my response for them:

Japan wanted the games. Istanbul and Madrid also bidded for the games There were other nations around the globe that would love to host the Olympics. Japan isn't giving the Olympics the credit that it deserves. It is a major event and they want to cancel them?? Also, would the Japanese public be okay with all the money being spent on the Games going to waste because the event doesn't even take place? I don't think they'd be happy with that.

The IOC also have done lots of work on COVID restrictions for the games and I am confident that they've done it to make the Olympics as safe in bubbles for the athletes.

 

 

[zigzag]

I wonder if this gonna boost the demand to cancel the games JOC Accountant Suicide

[Palette86]

29 minutes ago, zigzag said:

I wonder if this gonna boost the demand to cancel the games JOC Accountant Suicide

It's a very sad news(probably death by overworking),but I don't think this will be a trigger to cancel the games.

[Victorian]

1 hour ago, zigzag said:

I wonder if this gonna boost the demand to cancel the games JOC Accountant Suicide

No it won't. 

[Quaker2001]

On 6/6/2021 at 1:28 AM, Victorian said:

Yes they do have to.

The games cannot be further pushed back for multiple reasons. Securing the venues again will be a major headache. Most of the venues would already be booked. The IOC were lucky they were able to get the venues again in 2021 but 2022 they won't be as lucky.

This is unfortunate for Japan I understand and I think the IOC will keep this in mind when awarding the 2030 Winter Olympics. I am favouring the Japanese bid as compensation for missing out on the usual hype of the Olympics this year.

This is unfortunate but future hosts should not have to suffer because of this. Again, future hosts will then need to secure venues which might not be possible.

Another reason that they won't push future games back is because then you will have the Olympics competing against the FIFA World Cup. If you push Tokyo into 2022, they will be competing against the World Cup, Commonwealth Games plus the already rescheduled world championships for various sports. They need to do everything possible to get the games underway this year whether there are fans in attendance or not.

Normally, that would be an issue.  Not next year.  Remember the World Cup is in November/December, not in it's usual spot in July.  There's a dozen reasons the Olympics can't be postponed further, but the World Cup this time around is not one of them.

[Triplecast]

3 hours ago, Palette86 said:

It's a very sad news(probably death by overworking),but I don't think this will be a trigger to cancel the games.

 

2 hours ago, Victorian said:

No it won't. 

It is very sad, but now one poll (albeit from a conservative, pro-government newspaper) shows 50% support for the Games happening this summer, up from 39% a month ago. (The Olympics poll is right after the poll showing Suga's unpopularity.)

Suga’s approval rating sinks to record low - The Japan News (the-japan-news.com)

 

[Quaker2001]

On 6/6/2021 at 1:32 AM, Victorian said:

In response for those asking for the games to be cancelled. This is my response for them:

Japan wanted the games. Istanbul and Madrid also bidded for the games There were other nations around the globe that would love to host the Olympics. Japan isn't giving the Olympics the credit that it deserves. It is a major event and they want to cancel them?? Also, would the Japanese public be okay with all the money being spent on the Games going to waste because the event doesn't even take place? I don't think they'd be happy with that.

The IOC also have done lots of work on COVID restrictions for the games and I am confident that they've done it to make the Olympics as safe in bubbles for the athletes.

Here's what you need to keep in mind.  "those asking for the games to be cancelled" are primarily Japanese citizens who right now are extremely dissatisfied with their country's response to the pandemic and with very good reason.  Yes, they were enthusiastic.  And then a once in a century pandemic hit the globe right before the show was about to go on.  A pandemic that is worsened when people gather in large numbers because there's no easy way of knowing who does or doesn't carry a potentially deadly disease. 

Try and understand things from their point of view where they see that Japan has all sorts of restrictions on who can or can't enter the country.  Yet there will be a different set of rules for those in the country for the Olympics.  Right now, there's a lot of mistrust with the country's leadership.  So I can't blame Japanese citizens for lacking faith that things will go bad and when the Olympics leave town, they'll be left to deal with the fallout.

Now for the flip side of all this.  I do believe with the proper safety precautions, the athletes and other visitors can be kept safe.  Much easier said than done and it's a major risk no matter how you spin it.  Fears of a super-spreader emerging or an "Olympic variant" being created are nothing but COVID fear porn.  But it would break with tradition is there wasn't some sort of fear-mongering before an Olympics, even though this is obviously a much more serious threat than what Zika virus and the water quality in Brazil posed in 2016.  This could turn out to be a big nothingburger.  Or it might not be.

I have the advantage of having been vaccinated (and living in an area where half the population and rising has been as well) and being able to watch the Olympics on TV.  They are of little threat to me and I know plenty of people who work in sports television that would greatly benefit from the Olympics being held this summer.  But to the Japanese, I'm nothing but "gaijin" so my opinion on the matter is of little meaning.

Again, if you were to respond to those who want the Olympics cancelled, put into context who you are talking to.  Understand the risks and the concerns that Japanese citizens have right now.  These Olympics are no longer for them and their country.  It's for the benefit of television and other sponsors who insist on holding this event no matter the consequences to Japan or the rest of the world.  Like you, I'm confident that a month after the Olympics, we'll look back and realize the dire predictions didn't come to be.  But I'm only cautiously optimistic to believe that when a country such as Japan has NOT managed the pandemic well of late and is now trying to keep the Olympics safe when they have largely failed their own citizens.  You say there are other countries that would love to host the Olympics.  No country would wish to be in the situation that Japan is in right now.

[stryker]

It doesn't help the IOC or the organizing committee that in a country with a snail's pace vaccination roll out that Olympic athletes are now jumping the line to get vaccinated. Compound that with the fact this is now the most expensive Olympics in history along with many purpose built Olympic venues that will never see their Olympic level capacity and it probably means it will be decades (2050s would be my guess) before Japan even considers another bid for an Olympics beit winter or summer. It's a shame because there are only a handful of countries right now that can host the SOGs without necessarily breaking the bank to do so. Take Japan off the list and Korea and China are there only realistic options in Asia. As I've stated previously, once the financial numbers start coming out, the No Olympics crowd is going to have a field day.

[@SportNow786542]

9 hours ago, stryker said:

It doesn't help the IOC or the organizing committee that in a country with a snail's pace vaccination roll out that Olympic athletes are now jumping the line to get vaccinated. Compound that with the fact this is now the most expensive Olympics in history along with many purpose built Olympic venues that will never see their Olympic level capacity and it probably means it will be decades (2050s would be my guess) before Japan even considers another bid for an Olympics beit winter or summer. It's a shame because there are only a handful of countries right now that can host the SOGs without necessarily breaking the bank to do so. Take Japan off the list and Korea and China are there only realistic options in Asia. As I've stated previously, once the financial numbers start coming out, the No Olympics crowd is going to have a field day.

Japan would need to learn from their mistakes if they considered bidding for an another Olympics sometime, unless they should use existing venues, or even ones built for 2020, just as Paris and LA does for their next respective Olympics in both 2024 and 2028.

Also, if we all want an Olympics being held in countries more than only one, it would be nice if Japan joins alongside with Korea to bid for the Games, doing the same feat when the two Asian countries staged the FIFA World Cup in 2002. If awarded, both Japan and Korea would use their shared hosting honors to not only promote peace, but to showcase their reconciliation to the entire world, as the two countries were at political conflict for a very long time.

But for both countries and the IOC right now, let reputational and financial recovery do the hard work.

[WD96]

On 6/7/2021 at 4:14 PM, stryker said:

the No Olympics crowd is going to have a field day.

Oh god, these guys. They zoomboomed a IOC meeting last month, destoryed private prosperity eleven years ago in Vancouver and released a restaurant owner's personal phone number two years ago. These guys are mostly radical left. If you looked them up on Reddit, you can see the antifa logo on a No Olympics demonstration back in July 2019.

[Triplecast]

23 minutes ago, WD96 said:

Oh god, these guys. They zoomboomed a IOC meeting last month, destoryed private prosperity eleven years ago in Vancouver and released a restaurant owner's personal phone number two years ago. These guys are mostly radical left. If you looked them up on Reddit, you can see the antifa logo on a No Olympics demonstration back in July 2019.

I prefer referring to them as anarchists.

[WD96]

Sorry about the mispelling of the word "property". I cannot edit my post.

[@SportNow786542]

13 hours ago, WD96 said:

Oh god, these guys. They zoom-bombed an IOC meeting last month, destroyed private prosperity eleven years ago in Vancouver, and released a restaurant owner's personal phone number two years ago. These guys are mostly radical left. If you looked them up on Reddit, you can see the antifa logo on a No Olympics demonstration back in July 2019.

To us, as Olympic fans, that sentiment against the Games and even the IOC are truly a new breed of cancel culture. We don't want money and politics to be surrounded everywhere before and during the Olympics, and that's because diversity and tranquility through sport is more independent from both. For those who were 'Anti-Olympic-ers', they've looked back to the Games' darker past, and once more because of what they are doing in an IOC virtual meeting last month, just as you said, they had acted too much in order to ruin its reputation.

[StefanMUC]

Stop the “cancel culture” bs.

Money and politics are at the heart of each and every IOC decision, no matter how much sugarcoating their PR department does.

If they get a harsh wind blowing in their face, that’s pretty much their own making, it’s easy for radical activists to target them.

By the way, “antifa” means antifascism. I think everyone should actually be antifascist, because if you aren’t, what makes that of you?

I’m not saying the IOC is a fascist organisation (well, google Brundage or Samaranch’s lives…), but getting all worked up that an “antifa” logo is displayed at a Nolympics protest is pretty absurd.

[WD96]

7 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

By the way, “antifa” means antifascism. I think everyone should actually be antifascist, because if you aren’t, what makes that of you?

The radicals had misused that term as they target anyone who is not really fascist.

I am worried that there are going to be riots in Tokyo during the Olympics.

Regarding the IOC meeting incident, that act of zoom-bombing was illegal and I do hope the authorities will take action aganist the individuals who did this. 

But all of that aside, I do extremely hope that everyone is safe at the Tokyo Olympics. So, thoughts and prayers for a safe and healthy games.

[@SportNow786542]

3 hours ago, WD96 said:

The radicals had misused that term as they target anyone who is not really fascist.

I am worried that there are going to be riots in Tokyo during the Olympics.

Regarding the IOC meeting incident, that act of zoom-bombing was illegal and I do hope the authorities will take action against the individuals who did this. 

But all of that aside, I do extremely hope that everyone is safe at the Tokyo Olympics. So, thoughts and prayers for a safe and healthy games.

I hope that security in Tokyo would be much tighter during Games time, but turbulence in the host city was too very concerning for an event like the Olympics, which is being held in a major-scale. Once again, we cannot afford an another bloodied tragedy similar to the Olympic Village massacre during Munich 1972; where 11 members of the Israeli team were killed, and the bombings during Atlanta 1996; in which one person was perished (another person later died of a heart attack), and 111 others were injured at Centennial Park.

[Quaker2001]

17 hours ago, @SportNow786542 said:

To us, as Olympic fans, that sentiment against the Games and even the IOC are truly a new breed of cancel culture. We don't want money and politics to be surrounded everywhere before and during the Olympics, and that's because diversity and tranquility through sport is more independent from both. For those who were 'Anti-Olympic-ers', they've looked back to the Games' darker past, and once more because of what they are doing in an IOC virtual meeting last month, just as you said, they had acted too much in order to ruin its reputation.

What's new?  This happens every Olympics.  And there are plenty of salient points the anti-Olympics crowd brings up.  The IOC has done plenty to ruin their own reputation that you can hardly blame the media for calling them out for it.  They are a morally bankrupt organization that shouldn't be preaching to the rest of the world and like Stefan said, they're much more about money and politics and less about peace and tranquility through sport those days.  Yes, I would like for the Olympics to be celebrated in the spirit of peace and unity.  But that's a utopia that simply doesn't exist right now, let alone in the throes of a once in a century pandemic

[Quaker2001]

4 hours ago, @SportNow786542 said:

I hope that security in Tokyo would be much tighter during Games time, but turbulence in the host city was too very concerning for an event like the Olympics, which is being held in a major-scale. Once again, we cannot afford an another bloodied tragedy similar to the Olympic Village massacre during Munich 1972; where 11 members of the Israeli team were killed, and the bombings during Atlanta 1996; in which one person was perished (another person later died of a heart attack), and 111 others were injured at Centennial Park.

Eek, why would you even think that?  I have little concern that there will be any sort of incident at these games.  Protests will likely be contained (not a good look if Japan is protesting against COVID measures by gathering in large crowds).  The aftermath of these Olympics will tell the story.  If COVID cases and hospitalizations/deaths rise afterwards, that's a problem.  If not, then it will hopefully provide fodder that the Olympics, while risky, were not a danger to the world as many have been predicting

[@SportNow786542]

5 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

I have little concern that there will be any sort of incident at these games.  Protests will likely be contained (not a good look if Japan is protesting against COVID measures by gathering in large crowds).  The aftermath of these Olympics will tell the story. If COVID cases and hospitalizations/deaths rise afterwards, that's a problem.  If not, then it will hopefully provide fodder that the Olympics, while risky, were not a danger to the world as many have been predicting.

Unless that's your opinion, quite though... But we hoped that everything would be safely and successfully settled in Tokyo once the Games leave town. Again, we know that Japan would pull this off despite this current situation, especially when it comes to excelling their innovation.

[Quaker2001]

5 hours ago, @SportNow786542 said:

Unless that's your opinion, quite though... But we hoped that everything would be safely and successfully settled in Tokyo once the Games leave town. Again, we know that Japan would pull this off despite this current situation, especially when it comes to excelling their innovation.

You know, we keep hearing about how great Japan is and that they're a good country to be put into this position because they can handle it, but look at the reality?  Japan is struggling with the virus.  Their population dislikes and distrusts country leadership.  So maybe some of this praise for Japan is a little misplaced.

Time will tell how this all went.  It'll all be based on the COVID numbers in the month or so following the Olympics.  If there's an uptick in cases and COVID deaths, the Olympics will undoubtedly get blamed.  So let's hope that Japan does in fact know what they're doing, because between the Tokyo organizers and the IOC, I'm less than convinced their safety protocols are as good as they need to be