– In view of the corona pandemic, the Olympic Games in Tokyo are taking place under strict rules that the sports world has not yet known. Fans are allowed, but alcohol is prohibited. Otherwise, this Summer Games will be different from all the others.
There is no trace of Olympic anticipation: alcohol for the few thousand fans and condoms for the athletes will only be available when it’s all over. On the other hand, worries about a superspreader event in Tokyo are growing ever greater: The summer Olympic Games, which start in a month, threaten to turn into a rather fun-free spectacle in view of the ongoing corona pandemic. But neither Japan’s Olympic makers, for whom it is ultimately a matter of saving face, nor those responsible at the International Olympic Committee allow themselves to be dissuaded from all of this. The billion dollar games are to be pulled through.
Model character for the whole world?
Japan’s head of organization Seiko Hashimoto admitted in an interview published by the Japanese news agency on Wednesday that the Japanese people are not yet convinced that the games can really take place safely Kyodo a. Nevertheless, she hopes for a smooth opening of the games on July 23rd. “I really want them to open without major disruptions,” said Hashimoto. Attempts will continue to be made to make the measures to contain the risks clear to the citizens. This could be a “model” for the whole world, said Hashimoto.
Initial plans to allow alcohol in the arenas during the Summer Games were abandoned on Wednesday. According to Japanese media reports, under pressure from the brewery group Asahi, an important sponsor of the games, the organizers had considered allowing spectators to drink alcohol inside the competition venues. Asahi has accepted the ban, said Hashimoto. Fans are also not allowed to bring their own alcohol into the arenas, have to wear masks and are not allowed to speak loudly or cheer.
The original plans had met with criticism. Even after the corona emergency was lifted at the beginning of the week, the citizens of Tokyo are still subject to restrictions on the consumption of alcohol. You can drink with a maximum of one other person in restaurants or bars and only until 7 p.m. “Are the Olympic Games an exception after the restaurant operators have been burdened with anti-infection measures for so long?” Haruo Ozaki of the Tokyo Medical Association was recently quoted as saying. He had asked the organizers to ban alcohol at the Olympics.
Between fears and concerns
According to surveys, a majority of Japanese fear a resurgence in corona infections as a result of the games. The government’s top corona advisor advised against admitting viewers. Japan is still doing well internationally with around 14,500 corona deaths. But the vaccination process started late. Although it has now picked up speed, most citizens will not be vaccinated at the start of the Games. Nevertheless, with the support of the IOC, the government and the Olympic organizers disregarded the concerns and allowed up to 10,000 local spectators to attend all competitions. Unless the infection situation in the country worsens and requires a renewed emergency, fans could be locked out. Foreign fans are denied entry.
“We’re damned if …”
A cancellation of the games now appears to be ruled out. “We got into a situation where we can’t even stop. We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t,” criticized Kaori Yamaguchi, who won gold in judo in 1984 and who is today Board of the NOK sits in a guest post for the news agency Kyodo. “The IOC also seems to agree that public opinion in Japan is not important.”
