2021 Olympics and the Outbreak in Tokyo

There are concerns that arise as the Olympics get closer. (James Matsumoto/Getty Images)

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics being postponed to 2021 as a result of COVID-19 has left many all over the world excited for the games this coming year. It seems that almost nothing can stop the games from occurring, even a state of emergency in Tokyo.

The Olympics are set to occur from July 23 to Aug. 8 of 2021. Despite Japan currently being in a state of emergency and potentially being so during the games, it is clear that officials of the Olympics are urging that the Olympics will still occur.

The population of Japan, however, does not feel the same way. In early May, The Guardian reporter Justin McCurry reported that around 60% of the population in Japan are wanting the Tokyo Olympics to be canceled. 

It is more important now than ever for Japan to take as many precautions as possible to ensure the games will be as safe as possible. The IOC, the International Olympics Committee,  is hoping to do this by having a majority of the residents that live in Tokyo Bay be vaccinated. ESPN has reported that IOC officials are expecting over 80% of the residents in this population to be vaccinated but so far only 2% of the population in Japan has been.

A graph to represent U.S and Japanese Adult’s opinions on the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics. (Alex Silverman/Morning Consult)

Although there is much urge for the residents of Tokyo to be vaccinated, there are no requirements for the athletes themselves to be vaccinated in order to compete in the games.

Not only are the people of Japan having safety concerns, but so are medical professionals. The Tokyo Medical Practitioner Association, made of more than 6,000 people created to ensure the safety of the Olympics, has advised the Olympics to be canceled in a letter that was sent to the head organizing committee of the Games. In addition, the head of the Tokyo Medical Association, Haruo Ozaki, has expressed many concerns with the games occurring due to the state of Japan. He has suggested that the government has been “insufficient” in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

A precaution that potentially will be taken is allowing spectators at the games. It is not certain whether spectators will be allowed at the games, but if so it has been discussed that there will be a maximum number of 5,000 people who can be in attendance at large events. Those who would be allowed to attend the games would have to be residents of Japan as it has been reported by Japan Forward that anyone overseas will not be allowed to spectate the games.

A reason as to why there is such an urge for the Olympics to occur may be due to the money that has been lost due to delaying the games already to this point. For delaying the games for one year, it cost around $2.8 billion, which makes the total amount for the 2021 Olympics $15.4 Billion. This means if the Olympics were to be rescheduled again for 2022, the event would cost over $18 billion dollars.

Regardless of what happens next for the Olympics, it will be interesting to see the effect it could have on the residents of Tokyo.