Dueling reports over the last few hours from major publications have left a level of chaos and uncertainty about what is happening with the Tokyo2020 Olympics, already rescheduled to summer of 2021 due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.
The Times, a British publication, sent a shockwave through the global sporting community when multiple publications, including Reuters and The Sydney Morning Herald, picked up their story about internal sources within the Japanese government casting doubt over the country’s ability to host the Olympic Games in the summer of 2021.
But, in spite of headlines like “Tokyo Olympics to be canceled for coronavirus: reports” (SMH), the actual substance of the source article is much less robust in its confidence.
Citing a single source within the government’s ruling coalition, The Times reports in its lead that “the Japanese government has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled because of the coronavirus, and the focus is now on securing the Games for the city in the next available year, 2032.”
The exact quote from the source, however, presents this more as an opinion.
“No one wants to be the first to say so but the consensus is that it’s too difficult,” the source said. “Personally, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
This runs counter to multiple other reports over the last day, which includes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach telling Kyodo News “We have, at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. There is no Plan B.”
Further, Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga told Japanese parliament this week that “we will have full anti-infection measures in place and proceed with preparation and with a determination to achieve the Games that can deliver hope and courage throughout the world.”
So, the net effect is an escalation of the disagreement that has gripped the Olympic community for almost a year now. Previously, the lead of the organizing committee for the London 2012 Olympics said that he didn’t think the Games would happen, but he has no role in Tokyo 2021, so that was more of an opinion based on experience than direct knowledge of preparations.
A survey showed that 80% of the Japanese population did not want the country to host, but despite that, the IOC has remained steadfast that they are moving forward with the Games.
Privately, American Olympic leadership in the United States has been indicating that they expect the Olympics to move forward as well, though they haven’t made a public position statement.
And so, all of this leaves us with a growing sense of uncertainty. It feels as though a final go/no go call would have to come within the next few months to escape as much sunk cost as possible. The IOC’s next Executive Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 27.
Addition: after the original publication of this report, the USOPC posted on their Twitter account saying that they have not received any information regarding the upcoming Olympic Games being canceled.
(1/3) USOPC statement on the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020:
— USOPC News (@USOPC_News) January 22, 2021
Make sense to cancel. They have cancelled for World Wars, and this is getting there in terms of death toll in USA. The main issue is the dispersion of the participants after the event. Spanish Flu dispersed quickly from a French hospital camp in WW1, hosting the Olympics could be asking for the same situation.
There are major organizations finding and purchasing the vaccinations for their teams in a number of industries so they can go to work. Get swimmers, volunteers, and coaches vaccinated before their Trials, prepare for the Games like usual in the predetermined location like the bubbles we’ve seen in other sports before major championships. This is now going to get better as more vaccines enter the market. Keep the Faith everyone, but have a Plan B just in case.
While a valid idea, there are still essential workers, senior citizens, teachers, people with underlying conditions…that can not even get an appointment to get a vaccination let alone the actual shot in the arm. Prioritizing athletes over countries that haven’t received any vaccines yet and may not until 2022 is not good for humanity. I love swimming and the Olympics but there is something greater at stake here.
Be well.
The NFL/players and other pro sports/athletes make money, the Olympics costs tax-payer money and nearly all the athletes make no money (Except NBC television makes a lot of money), sooo…
Wonder who has more influence on the government’s final decision , NBC/current money or Japanese citizens/future vote preferences?
In all honesty, a “semi-normal” Games (one held in the one city/nation at the same time, even without spectators) is looking less than 50/50 at this point.
In hindsight, postponing to 2022 rather than just pushing it back 12 months WOULD’ve been a wiser move …. remember folks, prior to 1994 both Summer & Winter Games were held in the same calendar year; but that’s not realistically viable now.
There are no perfect solutions or workarounds; and I don’t think ALL Olympic sports will be able to manage this; but my work-around is that each Olympic sporting body look to stage a “World” meet at some point during this year and that be given the Olympic designation. The numbers may… Read more »
What’s NBC’s comment on all this? Aren’t they the big money player with a big swinging sway?
There is NO CONFUSION. The 2021 OLYMPICS are done.Stick a fork it them.
Qanon starting a new false narrative I see.
Nope . A White Hat in the AOC office wrote it on a tiny note & sent it out via pigeon from Milsson’s Point across the Harbour to the CBD office of the SMH .