President of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Seiko Hashimoto is “100%” sure the games will go ahead this year. However, she warns it may be without spectators if there is a coronavirus outbreak.
The Tokyo Games, delayed from last year, are due to start in just 50 days time on 23 July.
10 areas of Japan are currently under state emergency as the country deals with a fourth wave of coronavirus. Some areas face restrictions that will last until 20 June. So far, Japan have only fully vaccinated about 3% of their population. The country only started vaccinating in February, which is much later than most other nations.
Despite the Covid situation, Hashimoto says, “I believe that the possibility of these Games going on is 100%”. The question is, how to make it most safe and secure. The biggest challenge is managing the flow of people. If an outbreak develops during the sporting event, then they have to be prepared to continue without any spectators.
Hashimoto remains confident the Games will happen, and says they are doing everything they can. There is very little time now before they begin, and they are being thorough in their decision making. She says, they are “carefully reviewing the current situation and deciding what to do depending on what we consider to be right”.
The Japanese people are feeling very insecure right now, with 70% of the population against holding the Games in Tokyo. Japan’s most senior medical adviser even said that hosting the Olympics during a pandemic was “not normal”. The plan is to create as much of a bubble as possible. This is to provide a safe space for the citizens of Japan, as well as for people coming from abroad.
A once in a lifetime opportunity
International fans are not allowed to attend either the Olympics or Paralympics, which start on 24 August. This was a hard decision to make, but necessary to ensure everyone’s safety. Competing in the Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will be sad for athletes to not have any home support present, or family or friends with them.
Another tough decision is on which countries will be permitted to enter. They will need to meet travel requirements set by the Japanese government. If the pandemic escalates across the world again, and no country is able to come to Japan, then the Games will inevitably have to be cancelled.
At the moment, no major countries have spoken out against the Games happening. Team GB say they are “fully committed” to sending a full team.
Hashimoto is a former Olympian herself, having competed in cycling and speed skating. She was appointed Games president in February following the Yoshiro Mori’s resignation over sexist comments.
Her aim is to reassure athletes that have dedicated so much of their time and life to preparing for the Games, that their efforts are not wasted. But she promises to “defend and protect their health”.
Hashimoto hopes the legacy of the Tokyo Games shows a society accepting people regardless of gender, disability, race, or sexual orientation. She is aware that Japanese society still has deeply rooted unconscious bias, especially when it comes to division of the sexes. This is something she wants to change.
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