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keystone-sda.ch
![The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo would have started on Friday.]()
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The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo would have started on Friday.
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AFP
![Because of the Corona Pademie, the event was postponed by one year.]()
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Because of the Corona Pademie, the event was postponed by one year.
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keystone-sda.ch
![But the summer games are on the brink - the capital of Japan has once again declared the highest virus alert level.]()
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But the summer games are on the brink – the capital of Japan has once again declared the highest virus alert level.
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keystone-sda.ch
![A survey of the Japanese population shows that only 24 percent support a staging next summer - 34 percent want a cancellation.]()
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A survey of the Japanese population shows that only 24 percent support a staging next summer – 34 percent want a cancellation.
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Tokyo has once again declared the highest virus alert level red: for four days, the capital counted almost 300 positive corona tests, significantly more than during the emergency in April. Despite the heat, the capitals no longer take off their masks, and there is a yawning emptiness in many shops and restaurants. But in front of the main station, a countdown clock in alarm red digits counts down the days until “Tokyo 2020”.
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Rescue plan is in place
Actually, Olympia would have started on Friday this week. However, due to the pandemic, the games are not scheduled to open until July 23, 2021. On Thursday, exactly one year before, Japan’s Olympic makers want to publish an encouraging video. His message is not difficult to guess: the games should take place as a “symbol of resilience and hope” (IOC President Thomas Bach).
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The rescue plan is already in place: the 43 sports facilities have been secured again, the competitions follow the old schedule, the athletes live in the Olympic Village as planned. The difference: Instead of “higher, faster, further”, NOK President Yoshiro Mori’s motto is now “safe, protected, simplified”. Mori announced an Olympia “without great splendor”, IOC boss Bach is preparing for “frugal” games. Your choice of words signals: The organizers have long since decided to hold an event.
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Many billions have already been spent
“First, the IOC is under extremely great pressure: many billions have already been spent,” says Olympic expert and Japanese scientist Barbara Holthus. Only the television rights money machine can fill the empty IOC box office. Insiders estimate the revenue at $ 4 billion. “Secondly, a cancellation could strengthen the global protest movement ‘No Olympics anywhere’ and make calls for reform louder,” says Holthus. Motive number three: A rejection would be a severe defeat for IOC chief Bach, who is running for a second term next spring.
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The Tokyo organizers have over 250 simplification proposals on the table if there is no vaccine by next summer. The festival of joy would then shrink to a sporting event with strict hygiene rules. The 10,500 Olympic athletes and their supervisors would have to be tested daily after two weeks of quarantine and subject to a strict ban on going out and visiting. Almost all of the seats in the stadiums were from Japan, with every second seat remaining empty. Masks would be required.
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Athletes at the end of the Olympic Games: Spirig: “Don’t know yet what that means for my future”(03:38)
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Only 24 percent of the Japanese are for hostage
However, Japanese experts doubt this scenario. “As soon as athletes become infected, neither they, their teammates nor their previous opponents can continue the competition,” warns health expert Koji Wada. The public is also skeptical: According to a survey on Sunday, only 24 percent of the Japanese are behind the host of the games next summer. In contrast, 34 percent want to cancel it, 36 percent plead for a new postponement.
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The negative mood has consequences: A year ago, the Japanese tore tickets so badly that they had to be raffled off. But when the organizers decided two weeks ago that the cards issued would remain valid, the hashtag “Refund” spread on Twitter: many owners prefer to return their cards in autumn rather than risk losing their money if the games are canceled.
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The national company sponsors are also reluctant to pay the record amount of almost CHF 3 billion into the Olympic cash register. According to a survey by the TV broadcaster NHK, only 12 percent of these companies want to extend their contracts, which expire at the end of the year. Two thirds admitted that they were undecided. However, failure is impossible for the Olympic makers in Tokyo and Lausanne. Regardless of the corona location, they want to light the Olympic flame in Tokyo in one year.
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