The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was set to take place in July of last year but the pandemic has caused the postponement of this major sports event. This year, however, Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said that he is 100 percent certain that the Games will be able to push through even if a state of emergency is raised in the city.
The 2020 Olympics is scheduled to take place in the capital of Japan from July 23 until August 8. The Paralympic Games will then take place from August 24 until September 5. While there are people who are looking forward to these sports events and are already checking sites like 10CRIC India to check where they can place their bets, many are questioning why the Olympics is still taking place despite the pandemic risks.
Well, many are sure that the Olympics proceeding has something to do with how much money the IOC will lose for another postponement. Based on reports, there are billions of dollars at stake here. Japan has declared that they have spent over 15.4 billion USD on the said sports events but government audits suggest it’s even bigger than that.
It is estimated that if the Olympics will be canceled once again, the IOC could lose as around 3 to 4 billion USD in broadcast rights and income which is already 91 percent of their total income. Reports also suggest that at least 40 percent of the IOC’s total income is coming from the American network, NBCUniversal.
And so, there is a lot at stake here and it will be hard to once again cancel the sports events. A political scientist from Sophia University spoke about the situation and said, “It’s a bit like a gambler who already has lost too much. Pulling out of it now will only confirm the huge losses made, but carrying on you can still cling to the hope of winning big and taking it all back. Public opinion is indeed unlikely to be kind even if Suga decides to cancel at the last minute.
He might as well take the chance and hope for the best by going ahead with it. At least there is some chance that he can claim the games to be a success — just by doing it — and saturating the media with pride and glory might help him turn the negative opinion around.”
Many are questioning this including The Lancet, a medical journal, and The New England Journal of Medicine. The second-largest selling newspaper in Japan is also saying that the Olympics should be canceled instead and this is supported by the other regional newspapers.
Will Spectators Be Allowed?
Despite the criticism, the Olympics is still pushing through and no official announcements are announced just yet about the banning of live audiences. However, the Japanese medical experts led by top health adviser Shigeru Omi issued a statement last week that the least risky option and desirable one regarding this matter are to hold the Games without spectators.
This is something that Hashimoto is agreeing with. She said, ”Earlier today, chairman Omi gave us his opinion about the risk of novel coronavirus infection in the Games. Based on Chairman Omi’s proposal, I’d like you to actively discuss how to realize ‘security and safety from the expert’s point of view.”
She also explained how the Tokyo Games will be managed and said, “The Prime Minister announced the lifting of the state of emergency and the government’s basic policy on holding events from now on. As we have been saying, the Tokyo Games will be managed under these government policies.”
She did say that the approach of allowing no fans in the stadium would reduce the infections. However, she still said that they would like to explore ways to allow spectators. What’s sure right now is that international spectators will be banned and only the locals will be able to watch the games live if they will be allowed. The final decision regarding this matter is set to be released this week.
If spectators will be allowed to watch the games live, experts advise that they should go straight to the venues and straight home after watching the live events. They are also urged to keep a safe distance away from everyone except, of course, from their family members and close friends. No group drinking and eating shall be allowed in the venues too.
