TOKYO (AP) – With calls for a cancellation of the assembly, pressure is being put on Japanese organizers and the IOC to explain exactly how they intend to host the Tokyo Olympics in the midst of a pandemic.
The International Olympic Committee and local organizers are expected to launch “Playbooks” next week, which will provide step-by-step details on how athletes and thousands of others will safely enter and from Tokyo.
Both the organizers and the CIO have been vague for months, opening the door to speculation about a cancellation or other postponement. Some members of the Japanese medical community are sounding the alarm, fearing that hospitals – which are already battling local patients – will be overwhelmed when the Olympics open on July 23. The Paralympics will follow on August 24.
There is also a skeptical Japanese audience. Recent polls suggest that 80% want games postponed or canceled.
Tokyo and Japan have seen an increase in the virus in recent months, and much of the country is under an emergency order. Japan has attributed just over 5,000 COVID-19 deaths and controlled the virus much better than most countries.
Q: So what are “Playbooks” and how will they work?
A: There are guides that will be intended for athletes and others – sponsors, officials, media and broadcasters – to explain about entering Japan for the Olympic Games. The rules could impose self-quarantine before leaving the country of origin. You will definitely need a negative test before boarding the plane. Upon arrival in Japan there will be several tests, transportation in designated vehicles and several daily tests in the Village of Athletes, which – like the seats – will be turned into a “bubble”. The rulebooks will be updated three times, adding new information as the organizers learn more.
Q: Why are the organizers confident that they can host the Olympics and Paralympics?
A: Craig Spence, a spokesman for the International Paralympic Committee, listed four reasons: 1) Unlike 10 months ago, scientists know a lot more about the virus; 2) sports and health officials learned how to organize sports events during the pandemic; 3) vaccines are now available; 4) The Olympic and Paralympic Games do not open for six months, time for the virus to grow to make it easier to enter the northern hemisphere summer.
“We fully understand the pressure on the health care system right now,” Spence told the Associated Press. “But in summer, it should not be the case, because the number of cases should decrease.
“If you’re a sportsman or a stakeholder, you won’t be able to get on a plane until you provide a negative test,” Spence added. “When you see the number of tests we’re going to do (on the spot), that should reassure people.”
Q: What about the fans? Will there be any? Someone from abroad?
A: Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto said in a parliamentary session on Tuesday that the decision will be announced “by spring”. Indoor venues are likely to have fewer fans – if any – than outdoor stadiums. And it seems less and less likely that fans abroad will be able to participate. Fewer fans means higher costs for Japan. The local organizing committee expected to receive $ 800 million from ticket sales. Any deficiency will have to be compensated by Japanese government entities.
Q: What about vaccines? Will they be asked to enter Japan?
A: This is a delicate area. Bach encouraged all “participants” to be vaccinated, but said it would not be necessary. The IOC and other sports bodies are warned that young and healthy athletes should not have priority over vulnerable and health workers. IOC member Dick Pound of Canada recently received a strong push back when he suggested that “the most realistic way to move forward” was to prioritize athletes. Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization, called the Olympics a “wonderful symbol,” but added, “We need to face the realities of what we are facing now – there is not enough vaccine right now to serve even those who are most at risk. ”
Spence, a spokesman for the CPI, said some teams had already been vaccinated. He didn’t call them.
Q: How does the Japanese medical community and the scientific community react to the prospect of having Olympics?
A: There is a lot of open skepticism. A few days ago, the president of the Japanese Medical Association issued a warning when asked about the Olympics and possible patients abroad.
“A lot of people will come from abroad and it’s a huge number, even with athletes alone,” said Dr. Toshio Nakagawa. “In this situation, if coronavirus patients appear among them as a collapse of the medical system occurs and spreads, it will not be possible to accept them. … If a miracle does not happen, such as the sudden launch of the vaccine, or if a remedy is suddenly found, we are not able to accept more patients. ”
With new cases on the rise, Tokyo and other parts of Japan have been subject to a voluntary emergency order since early January. It will end on February 7.
“Right now, a situation that can be called the collapse of the medical system has happened in different places, especially in areas where a state of emergency has been declared and is becoming a daily reality,” Nakagawa said. “If things continue, we may have to sort and choose the life that has priority over another.”
Q: The Olympics were canceled five times – all during the war. Why do officials continue in the pandemic?
A: The last cancellations took place in 1944. That was before a lot of money was at stake. The IOC is now a rich, commercial sports business that relies on selling broadcasting rights for nearly 75% of its revenue. Another 18% comes from sponsors. The IOC has only two major products to sell – the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Estimates suggest that Tokyo is worth $ 2 billion – $ 3 billion in broadcast payments to the IOC. He has a reserve fund, but he must have the TV money. In addition, Japan has spent at least $ 25 billion on training. Finally, China is set to host the Beijing Winter Olympics just six months after the end of Tokyo. Japanese politicians do not want to fail and give way to China.
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Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi and Yuri Kageyama contributed to this report.
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