When Olympics organizers shifted the marathon event from Tokyo to the northern city of Sapporo, they did so because of concerns about the intense summer …
When Olympics organizers shifted the marathon event from Tokyo to the northern city of Sapporo, they did so because of concerns about the intense summer heat in the Japanese capital. Two years down the track, critics say organizers have effectively leapt from the frying pan into the fire. Sapporo is currently under a COVID-19 state of emergency amid a resurgence in coronavirus infections. Officials in the city say they still don’t have key information, including the number of athletes to expect and details on health facilities, while opposition from residents to hosting part of the world’s biggest multi-sporting event has grown. “There’s no action yet,” said Takashi Okugi, a Sapporo city official in charge of Olympic preparations. “We don’t have enough time.” With less than two months to go, Hokkaido, the northernmost island where Sapporo is the main city, has the second-highest per capita COVID-19 rate in Japan, about 43% higher than that of Tokyo. Sapporo, which has a population of just under 2 million people, accounts for almost two-thirds of new cases. City officials and residents are nervous about the influx of athletes and support staff at a time when the city’s medical system is already stretched. Okugi said officials have made repeated requests to the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee seeking essential details on issues including which hospitals would be designated to treat any infected participants.
