Thought of the Day - April 26 2021 - The Tokyo Olympics

I am still amazed each time I hear that the Tokyo Olympics, now scheduled in three months from now, are still going ahead.

The Olympic Torch Relay kicked off in Fukushima on March 25 (the precise route was kept secret to minimize the number of spectators along the way) and now a month later has now reached Miyazaki. The April 13-14 stop in the city of Osaka was cancelled due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the area, and the leg in Miyakojima planned a week from now has also been cancelled. Due to this prudence, the good news is, so far there has only been one person involved with the relay that tested positive (the day after a security assignment).

While these trying times call for leadership and determination there is also the need for a reality check. Besides the staggering cost overruns (the cost is now anticipated to be more than triple the $7.3B USD Olympic bid), a poll by Japan's national broadcaster (NHK) earlier this year showed 77% of the Japanese population is not in favour of holding the games during the pandemic in the first place.

As announced last month, the postponed games will not have foreign spectators (purchased tickets are being refunded). However, as witnessed at the Australian Open, it was the athletes and their entourage that kickstarted the COVID-19 outbreaks in Melbourne that led to a shutdown of the state of Victoria ( Thought of the Day - February 24 - Australian Open Season ). Although numbers are still low by western standards, Japan is now grappling with its fourth wave. On Friday Japan declared a state of emergency in parts of the country, and so there are now discussions that domestic spectators will also be banned.

Moreover, only about 1% of Japan's population has been vaccinated so far. Japan has contracts with Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, however, at present only Pfizer has been approved. Mass vaccination is not scheduled to start until July, around the time the Olympics kick-off. It should be mentioned that while a negative COVID test is needed, but there is no quarantine period for foreign athletes and vaccination is not a prerequisite to participating in the games.

So, have you been following the torch run? Do you really think that holding the Olympics this summer is the right thing to do, or is it just bloody-minded people on the organizing committee trying to save face? If it does happen should Canada send atheletes? I know what Hayley Wickenheiser thinks.

Cheers

Cliff