Sports
70% of Japanese want Tokyo Games to be cancelled
Alternative in Waiting Position
Olympic Symbols in 2021 (Source: Japan Times medien-boldt)
USPA NEWS -
Over 70% of people in Japan think that this summer´s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics should be cancelled or postponed again, a think tank survey showed Saturday.
The survey by the Japan Press Research Institute showed that 37.9% of respondents said the Tokyo Games should be cancelled while 34% said the events should be postponed again.
The proportion of respondents who said the events should take place as scheduled stood at 26.1%. The Tokyo Games were already postponed by one year from summer 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The survey by the Japan Press Research Institute showed that 37.9% of respondents said the Tokyo Games should be cancelled while 34% said the events should be postponed again.
The proportion of respondents who said the events should take place as scheduled stood at 26.1%. The Tokyo Games were already postponed by one year from summer 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Of those who opposed holding the games this summer, 83.4% said the events would bring many people to Japan from around the world, leading to a further spread of the virus, while 64.3% said there is no prospect of the pandemic being contained.
Of those who favoured holding the games as scheduled, 67.3% noted that athletes have been preparing for the events and 49.3% said people would be encouraged by athletes´ performances and the excitement brought by the games.
The poll showed that 44.8% said that if the games are cancelled or postponed again, preparations made so far, including the construction of sporting venues, would end up being a waste of resources.
Of those who favoured holding the games as scheduled, 67.3% noted that athletes have been preparing for the events and 49.3% said people would be encouraged by athletes´ performances and the excitement brought by the games.
The poll showed that 44.8% said that if the games are cancelled or postponed again, preparations made so far, including the construction of sporting venues, would end up being a waste of resources.
Florida´s chief financial officer on Monday told the International Olympic Committee that the state would be happy to host the Olympics Games amid speculation that current host Japan may back out.
Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, “to encourage you to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan to the United States of America, and more specifically to Florida.“
“With media reports of leaders in Japan “˜privately´ concluding that they are too concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics to take place, there is still time to deploy a site selection team to Florida,“ he said.
Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, “to encourage you to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan to the United States of America, and more specifically to Florida.“
“With media reports of leaders in Japan “˜privately´ concluding that they are too concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics to take place, there is still time to deploy a site selection team to Florida,“ he said.
The letter, signed by Patronis and posted online, cited the supposed strength of state´s vaccination rollout, its economic reopening and sports events it has hosted during the pandemic, as well as the fact that its theme parks, including Disney World, are open for business.
But Florida has struggled badly during the coronavirus pandemic, with over 25,000 deaths so far in the state as the U.S. death toll nears 420,000.
“Whatever precautions are required let´s figure it out and get it done,“ Patronis said.
“I am determined to realize a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that mankind will have overcome the virus,“ said Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
But Florida has struggled badly during the coronavirus pandemic, with over 25,000 deaths so far in the state as the U.S. death toll nears 420,000.
“Whatever precautions are required let´s figure it out and get it done,“ Patronis said.
“I am determined to realize a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that mankind will have overcome the virus,“ said Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
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