Several years ago, when Shohei Ohtani was playing in his native country, he was honored at an awards show alongside Olympic gold medalist figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu.
When the host mentioned that they were both born in 1994, Ohtani acknowledged that he was not the most important athlete on stage.
“I consider myself part of the Hanyu generation,” Ohtani said.
Olympic heroes become some of the most famous people in Japan, opening the doors for them to become politicians (judoka Ryoko Tani, speed skater Seiko Hashimoto) and artists (wrestler Saori Yoshida). In addition, they marry pop stars, such as swimmer Kosuke Kitajima.
Because in ordinary times, the Japanese adore the Olympics.
Keep this in mind when you read about the polls showing that between 60% and 70% of the Japanese want the Tokyo Olympics canceled. Imagine how things are so that you want to suspend an event that you have so much appreciation, no less than in your own country.
This borders on insanity, as the Olympics are still scheduled to start in less than 10 weeks.
The revelations about what it takes to host the Summer Games have simplified the argument against them, as the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee is known to have asked the Japan Nursing Association to send 500 nurses and has asked 30 hospitals to admit infected athletes before other patients.
With less than 3% of its population vaccinated, and with Tokyo and several other prefectures under a prolonged state of emergency due to the spread of a new and more contagious strain of the coronavirus, the diversion of medical resources from an already overburdened healthcare system is not justified. .
Japan has very few intensive care beds, about five for every 100,000 people in 2019, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Germany has about 34 and the United States almost 26.
Today, the pandemic has claimed more than 11,000 Japanese lives, more than double the total in any other East Asian nation.
These were the points that were brought up over and over again at a recent parliament meeting during which Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was attacked by opposition lawmakers.
Suga said at one point that he did not prioritize the Games over the welfare of Japanese citizens, while at another he said that the decision to host or cancel the three-week event was up to the International Olympic Committee.
As if the IOC could be trusted. Canceling the Olympics could discourage other cities from wanting to host future Games, thus jeopardizing the very existence of the IOC.
Suga did not want to say whether the Olympics would take place if infection rates were in phase 3 (“rapid”) or phase 4 (“explosive”).
When asked if his refusal to answer the question indicated that the Games would go ahead if infection rates were “explosive,” Suga replied, “I have never said that at all.”
Suga repeated a phrase that he had already said several times about his desire to organize a Games that would be safe for athletes and at the same time protect the citizens of the country.
So the Olympics will be canceled if infection rates were in phase 3 or 4?
“My answer is what I just said,” Suga said.
Suga’s challenge is inspired by money and politics, as the government seeks to recoup at least part of the billions of dollars it invested in these Games against the backdrop of a national election that will take place at the end of the year. .
73% of the IOC’s four-year revenue of $ 5.7 billion comes from broadcast rights, as David Wharton of The Times has reported. NBC is the holder of the rights in the United States.
Suga’s approval rating has plummeted to less than 40%, which makes sense considering that he is asking the country to go against its own will and hold the Olympics.
The Japanese are careful and methodical. They have reservations about foreigners.
Its low vaccination rate is a product of this culture. Due to widespread mistrust of foreign drugs, Japan insisted on conducting its own domestic vaccine trials, delaying the launch and eliminating any chance of its population achieving herd immunity by the start of the Games on July 23.
Japan has already banned foreign fans and may soon ban local fans as well, but the country will have to open its borders to tens of thousands of athletes, support personnel and journalists.
No wonder there are so many voices of opposition.
Even prominent business leaders have spoken out against the Olympics. The CEO of online retailer Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani, called the Games a “suicide mission” in an interview with CNN. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son told CNBC that he would be “scared” for Japan and other countries if the Olympics are held.
Two years ago, tennis star Kei Nishikori teamed up with a comedian duo to promote the construction of an Olympic monument. At that press conference, Nishikori spoke enthusiastically about the Games. Last week, his tone had completely changed.
“If even a person dies,” he said, “it would be regrettable.”
Opposing views are not welcome. When Suga’s financial adviser tweeted the Japanese equivalent of “LOL” (to laugh out loud) to express his disbelief that the Games could be canceled, there were widespread calls for him to resign.
Anti-Olympic sentiments have risen to the point where celebrities have given up participating in the torch relay and sponsors have been reluctant to run ads linking them to the Games.
The case of swimmer Rikako Ikee was especially important in this national debate. Last month, this 20-year-old leukemia survivor became a national hero by qualifying for the Olympics. Over the past two weeks, he received messages on social media demanding that he withdraw from the Games. Ikee responded on Twitter saying that she understood the cancellation requests and was personally concerned about the coronavirus due to her medical history. He concluded his four-tweet message asking people to support the athletes.
These Olympic Games were once called the “Reconstruction Games” to celebrate the recovery of the Tohoku region after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that caused a nuclear disaster. Ironically, the Games themselves are now radioactive.
As catastrophic as suspending the Olympics may be, the alternative appears to be worse.
To read this note in Spanish, click here.
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