The Various Dimensions of Japan’s Troubled Olympics
Posted on : July 12, 2021Author : Sagnik Sarkar
The postponement of the 2020 Olympics because of the Covid-19 pandemic had put serious question marks on whether the event would take place at all. Now after almost a year of uncertainty, the world’s biggest sporting spectacle is all set to take place from the 23rd of July 2021. But the ambiguity regarding the event continues to exist. The pandemic, after all, is far from being over. There are looming fears about the event turning out to be a Covid-19 global super-spreader.
A lot of restrictions have been at place. International spectators have been denied entry to the country already, and a maximum of only 10,000 Japanese residents will be allowed in as audience for the various sporting events . Several other guidelines are being followed. Despite all this, many remain skeptical about going forward with the Games.
Japan has been in such a gloomy situation before. In 1940, they were the original hosts of what is now known as the ‘missing Olympics’. Tokyo’s 1940 bid, stressed the importance of bringing the Games to Asia for the first time, hence making the event ‘global’ in the true sense of the term. Japan’s bid also involved pleading with Benito Mussolini to withdraw Rome’s bid in Tokyo’s favour. Before the bid was tabled, in 1931, Japan had invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria and two years later withdrew from the League of Nations after it had refused to sanction the occupation. Hosting the Olympics was, therefore, also be an attempt to enhance international support.
However, things did not go as planned. In July 1938, the Olympic Committee of Japan was forced to forfeit hosting the Games, citing ‘trouble with China’. Japan’s military aggression in Asia, combined with the worsening international relations and the increasing hostility in the continent, made the annulment of the event inevitable. It was later shifted to Helsinki, but with the advent of the Second World War, chalked off completely. Japan got its chance finally in 1964.
Nevertheless, unlike Tokyo 1940’s cancellation, ‘Tokyo 2020’ is all set to take place in 2021. But the calls to cancel the Games are louder than ever. As of May 2021, a coronavirus state of emergency had been extended in the capital Tokyo and three other major prefectures. Polls and surveys in Japan suggest that nearly 70% of the population do not want the Olympics to go ahead, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) remains resolute that the event will take place. The Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, meanwhile, had mentioned that the government would “not put the Olympics first” but added that the ultimate decision would lie with the IOC.
Until now, North Korea is the only nation which has withdrawn from the event because of the pandemic situation. Their announcement came amidst yet another instance of the rising feud between the two Koreas. South Korea had earlier hoped the Olympic Games would be a chance to “foster peace and reconciliation between the two Koreas” ahead of a planned joint bid for the 2032 edition. With North Korea withdrawing, there were concerns it would trigger a domino effect of countries pulling out of the Olympics. But as of now, that has not been the case yet.
For the athletes who make it to the Olympics, it falls amongst the highlights of their careers. But at the same time, there has been a vivid worry amongst them for personal and public health in the middle of a global crisis. The US Track and Field team pulled out of its pre-Olympic training camp in May at Japan because of similar fears. Many towns supposed to host athletes have also pulled out. A doctors’ union has released a statement calling hosting a global event in this situation an ‘impossible task’. Streets have witnessed protests. Japan’s National Broadcaster has claimed that thousands of Olympic volunteers have also quit from their duties, earlier in June. And perhaps the biggest name to express his ‘concern’ about holding the Olympic Games amidst the pandemic is none other than the Emperor Naruhito, making a rare intervention that edged a ban on imperial intervention in the island nation’s politics.
Japan’s Emperor’s concerns are justified as the country has recorded more than 7,50,000 Covid-19 cases with more than 13,000 deaths. In April, as many as 9 prefectures were placed in a State of Emergency, and the restrictions have carried on, until most recently, up to June 20. These restrictions have caused the symbolic Olympic torch relay to undergo as many as five re-routings till date. Adding to the misery is the country’s staggeringly low vaccination rates. Fewer than 5% of the entire population has been inoculated, as per as mid-May figures. From May 24 onwards, however, a mass-vaccination program has gained ground, with the goal of immunization for all 36 million residents aged 65 years and over by the end of July. Vaccine developers Pfizer and BioNTech have also decided to donate doses to athletes and officials associated with the Olympics.
Besides the factor of money, there are other reasons behind Japan’s desire to host the Games without being bothered about the consequences. The Olympic charter specifies that the IOC must ensure the health of all the athletes involved and promote ‘safe sports’. Despite all this, the body is desperate to take the event forward. And under the various clauses of the host city agreement, any unilateral cancellation of contract can lead the risk and losses to fall with the local organising committee. Hence, the only realistic scenario is Japan pulling the plug jointly with the IOC, staying within the framework of their contract. Tokyo has thus been struck unaware and unprepared by the pandemic, like almost everyone else.
Termination of this event would also be a bitter ‘symbolic’ blow to Japan. The next Games in the global calendar are due in 2022, in the form of the Winter Olympics, scheduled to take place in Beijing, the capital city of Japan’s regional rival and a rising global power, China. The last time Tokyo had witnessed the Olympics was in 1964, and it was viewed as a global symbol of the island’s rehabilitation, rebuilding and restoration process post the Second World War. This time, the Games have arrived with another scope of the same manner. Japan has seen economic stagnation for a long time. There has also been the tsunami and the nuclear disaster of Fukushima, and hence the Olympics would epitomize the revival of the nation yet again.
Alongside this, in a communiqué issued at the end of a virtual G7 meeting on February 19th, 2021, the leaders showed their support towards the commitment of Japan to hold the Olympics in a safe and secure manner this summer as a symbol of global unity in overcoming COVID-19. This stance was again repeated in the G7 meet of leaders on June 11-13 at Cornwall, UK. The support further gives Japan, being a member of this bloc, and the IOC, a boost to go forward with the Games. It falls as a part of Japan’s multilateral commitment.
Hence, Japan claims to be ready to host the event successfully. IOC is equally confident about hosting the Games in the city even if it continues to be in a state of restrictions, with the safety of the athletes fully ensured. They will have to operate in bio-secure bubbles and will need to record two negative COVID-19 tests before arrival. Athletes will not be permitted to take public transport or visit restaurants and have been told to arrive no more than five days prior to competing. They are also supposed to leave no later than two days after they have finished. Athletes do not have to quarantine on arrival, however.
In the history of the Modern Olympic Games, it has only been cancelled thrice, because of the two World Wars. With the reluctancy of all the parties involved to think about scrapping off the current event, this number is undoubtedly going to stay the same, unless something adverse compels them to change their minds. Indeed, the Olympics this year is going to be the most challenging event to take place in the post-pandemic world, and if it ends up as planned, it will surely find its name in the history books as a success story like none other. With a significant number of people showing concerns about the event, a lot is on the shoulders of the organizers, to prove them all wrong. Immense credit must be given to the athletes and everyone else associated in the event, because of their courage to potentially risk themselves only to make their nations and their people proud. Besides this, it is also true that if the Games go on without any obstacles, it is going to function as a mental health boost to many, as they would have something to look up to during these tough times. It remains to be seen whether ‘Tokyo 2020’ gets associated with the word ‘spectacular’ or ‘catastrophic’ in the future.
- “Tokyo 2020: Olympic and Paralympic Games postponed because of coronavirus,” BBC Sport, 24 March 2020
Tokyo 2020: Olympic and Paralympic Games postponed because of coronavirus – BBC Sport
- Rurika Imahashi, “Will the Olympics be ‘safe and secure’ or a superspreader event?” NIKKIE Asia, 23 June 2021
Will the Olympics be ‘safe and secure’ or a superspreader event? – Nikkei Asia
- H.J. Mai, “Overseas spectators will be banned from Tokyo Olympics due to Covid-19 Risks,” NPR, 21 March 2021
Overseas Spectators Banned From Tokyo Olympics Due To COVID-19 Risks : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
- Ayano Shimizu, “Tokyo Olympic Spectator Gap Set at 10,000 or 50% capacity per venue”, Japan Today, 21 June 2021
Tokyo Olympic spectator cap set at 10,000 or 50% capacity per venue – Japan Today
- “Tokyo 1940: The Games that became the ‘Missing Olympics’,” AFP, NDTV Sport, 24 March 2020
Tokyo 1940: The Games That Became The ‘Missing Olympics’ | Other Sports News (ndtv.com)
- Ibid [v]
- Andreas Illmer, “Tokyo Olympics: Why doesn’t Japan cancel the Games?” BBC, 15 May 2021
Tokyo Olympics: Why doesn’t Japan cancel the Games? – BBC News
- Gabriel Fernandez, “Tokyo Olympics: North Korea becomes first country to skip 2020 games,” CBS Sports, 6 April 2021
Tokyo Olympics: North Korea becomes first country to skip 2020 games – CBSSports.com
- Tom Hamilton, “The Many Hurdles of Summer’s Tokyo Olympics,” ESPN, 4 June 2021
- Ibid [vii]
- Sinead Baker and Will Martin, “10,000 Volunteers from the Tokyo Olympics quit as the Japanese Public’s opposition to the Games grow,” Insider, 2 June 2021
Tokyo Olympics: 10,000 Volunteers Quit, National Broadcaster Says (insider.com)
- Robin Harding, “Japanese Emperor ‘Extremely Concerned’ About Olympics,” Financial Times, 24 June 2021
Japanese emperor ‘extremely concerned’ about Olympics | Financial Times (ft.com)
- Ibid [ix]
- Ibid [vii]
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“G7 Leaders send message of support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020,” International Olympic Committee, 19 February 2021G7 Leaders send message of support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Olympic News (olympics.com)
- “G7 Leaders reiterate support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020,” International Olympic Committee,14 June 2021
- Ibid [ix]
Sagnik Sarkar,
Intern, Asia in Global Affairs
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