«Their hope is to get through the games with as few missteps as possible,» political scientist Aki Tonami told the Associated Press.
Only five percent of Japan is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as the country plows ahead with its plan to host the Tokyo Olympics in July. Dr. Shigeru Omi, Japan’s top medical adviser, said hosting the Olympics during a pandemic is «abnormal» as many of the country’s citizens oppose holding the games. Japanese newspapers such as the Asahi Shimbu, the nation’s second largest paper, are expressing support for the games’ cancellation. However, that decision is up to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). «Based on what I am hearing, people within the government have been given their instructions to make the games happen, and that is their singular focus right now — for better or for worse. Their hope is to get through the games with as few missteps as possible,» political scientist Aki Tonami at the University of Tsukuba told the Associated Press. If the Olympics are canceled, it could cost Japan and the IOC billions of dollars. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. Public sentiment in Japan has been generally opposed to holding the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, partly based on fears the coronavirus will spike as almost 100,000 people — athletes and others — enter for both events. The Japanese medical community is largely against it. The medical journal The Lancet has raised questions about the health risks and criticized the World Health Organization and other health bodies for not taking a clear stand. The New England Journal of Medicine has said the IOC’s decision to proceed «is not informed by the best scientific evidence.» Still, they are going ahead. How has the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga been able to bypass strong opposition? At the core is the Host City Contract that gives the IOC the sole authority to cancel. If Japan cancels, it would have to compensate the IOC. Of course, the IOC is unlikely to sue a host city. So any deal would be worked out behind the scenes. Japan has officially spent $15.4 billion but government audits suggest it’s twice that much. Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Inc., a key player in landing the corruption-tainted bid in 2013, has raised more than $3 billion from local sponsors. Estimates suggest a cancellation could cost the IOC $3 billion-$4 billion in lost broadcast rights income. Broadcast income and sponsors account for 91% of the IOC income, and American network NBCUniversal provides about 40% of the IOC’s total income.
