 |
| The Japanese flag and the five rings of the Olympic Museum building in Japan <자료사진> © AFP=News1 |
The Japanese government is taking care of the’crisis theory’ of the Tokyo Olympics that has recently been raised at home and abroad.
The global epidemic of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) has seldom subsided, and even some ministers are showing skepticism about the hosting of the Olympics, but first, the Japanese government, the Olympic Organizing Committee, and the host city of Tokyo said, “We will prepare for the event as scheduled. “Go” is a principled position.
According to Jiji News, Japanese government spokesman Kato Katsunobu, at a regular briefing on the 18th, said, “There is no change in the views of the Japanese government (about the Olympics).” “At present, the officials are working together as one for the success of the event. We will respond properly,” he said.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike also said at a meeting with reporters that day, “Tokyo has a responsibility as a host city for (Olympic Games),” and “there is no change in progressing (preparation) step by step.”
The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games were initially scheduled to be held one after another from July to September last year, but were postponed for one year to this year due to Corona 19. However, even after that, the spread of Corona 19 in Japan and other countries around the world has not subsided, and the vaccination status has also been largely varied by country, leading to observations that it will not be easy to hold the event this year.
In the case of Japan, the cumulative number of corona 19 confirmed cases is 330,000, and the number of deaths is 4,500. In this regard, the New York Times (NYT) of the United States diagnosed that “the prospect of holding the Tokyo Olympics is becoming more uncertain as the days go by.”
 |
| On the 13th, citizens passing through Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, Japan, are wearing masks. © AFP=News1 |
In an interview with Reuters reported on the 14th, Taro Kono said, “We must do our best to prepare for the Olympics now, but we can go either way.” . This is the first time a Japanese government minister has publicly mentioned the possibility of canceling the Olympics.
In the midst of this, Japanese government officials said, “Corona 19 vaccination will be an important factor in whether the Tokyo Olympics can be carried out as scheduled,” Fuji TV said.
The Japanese government is currently undergoing screening to approve the use of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and German Bioentech in Japan under the goal of carrying out mass vaccinations for local citizens of Corona 19, starting from the end of next month. .
However, considering the reality of Japan, where the connection between the central government and local governments is extremely weak, it is pointed out that even if the use of the Corona 19 vaccine is approved, it will take a considerable amount of time only to classify and organize the vaccination targets by occupation and age. Is coming out.
In this regard, Shiro Dazaki, a conservative political critic, appeared on TBS on the same day, saying, “What I heard from the government officials yesterday (17th),” and said, “The (Olympic host) is difficult, even the government people know.”
However, Dazaki said, “If the host country’returns the (Olympic Hosting Rights)’, a penalty will be imposed according to the contract with the IOC, which incurs serious damage.” ) Will be reluctant to follow it.” Even if cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics becomes inevitable, Japan will be a way to accept decisions such as the IOC rather than proposing it first.