(Observer Network News) According to a report by the Times of India on the 22nd, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach stated on the 22nd that the Tokyo Olympics will go on as planned. He said "we have to make some sacrifices" to ensure that the Olympics are held. Polls in Japan show that most Japanese people want the Tokyo Olympics to be cancelled. Many Japanese media such as *** Dosha and Asahi Shimbun expressed dissatisfaction with Bach's use of the expression "sacrifice".

Screenshot of "The Times of India" report

Bach made these remarks at the 47th International Hockey League Congress held online. Bach called: "We have to make some sacrifices. "(We have to make some sacrifices to make this possible.)

He also said: "The Tokyo Olympics are just around the corner, and the final countdown has begun. Beginning. In such a difficult time, we need to send a powerful message to the world about our resilience, solidarity and diversity. Tokyo will show everyone that there is light at the end of the tunnel. ” < /p>

Before Bach, International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates also stated that even if Tokyo enters a state of emergency due to the new crown epidemic, the Tokyo Olympics will be held as scheduled. This demonstrates the International Olympic Committee's position that it must insist on holding the Olympic Games even if it faces the challenge of the new crown epidemic.

However, most Japanese people do not agree with continuing to hold the Olympic Games. They are worried that it will put pressure on Japan's medical system and accelerate the spread of the epidemic. According to a poll conducted by Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun" from May 7 to 9, nearly 60% of Japanese people want to cancel the Tokyo Olympics.

However, the International Olympic Committee is confident in hosting the Olympics safely. Bach said that "through full collaboration with our Japanese colleagues, we can ensure that our athletes will gather and compete in a safe environment." He also said: "More than 70% of athletes and staff have been vaccinated against the new crown vaccine, and this number will continue to grow in the future. There are currently three vaccine manufacturers providing vaccines to us."

Japan I’m afraid the Olympics cannot be canceled

So can Japan cancel the Olympics? The answer is: difficult. According to the British BBC report, according to the contract signed between the International Olympic Committee and the host city Tokyo, the power to cancel the Olympic Games lies with the International Olympic Committee, not the host city. If the Olympic Committee decides to insist on holding the Games, it will be difficult for the host city to say no.

Screenshot of the British BBC report

International sports lawyer Alexandre Miguel Mestre explained to the BBC that this is because the Olympic Games are the "exclusive property of the International Olympic Committee" "(exclusive property), only the Olympic Committee can decide when to terminate the contract (for hosting the Olympics).

So can Japan oppose the IOC and withdraw? Professor Jack Anderson from the University of Melbourne told the BBC: “According to the terms of various agreements signed by the host city, if Japan unilaterally cancels the hosting contract, all subsequent risks and losses will be borne by the Tokyo Organizing Committee. "This represents a huge financial outlay.

Therefore, the Japanese government has no choice but to work with the International Olympic Committee to do its best to complete the Tokyo Olympics. According to a CCTV News report on the 18th, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on the 17th that the government will work hard to explain to the public that the Tokyo Olympics will be held in a "safe and secure" manner and will not put further pressure on existing medical services.

Professor Anderson believes that the Japanese government also has some expectations for the Olympic Games. The Japanese government actually hopes that the Tokyo Olympics will be an opportunity for Japan to revive again, like the 1964 Olympics, and lift Japan out of long-term economic stagnation.

Bach will arrive in Japan on July 12

According to reports from The Japan Times and The First Post on the 20th, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will arrive in Japan on July 12 to start work on the Tokyo Olympics.

John Coates, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, stated in a letter disclosed on the 19th that Bach will arrive in Japan on July 12, less than 10 days before the opening of the Olympic Games. Two weeks. Previously, he planned to visit in May, but it was delayed due to the recurrence of the epidemic in Japan at that time.

In order to alleviate domestic concerns in Japan that "the Olympics will increase the burden on the medical system," Bach publicly stated that before the opening of the Olympics on July 23, the proportion of vaccinated athletes and staff in the Olympic Village will reach 80% %above.

According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 13:20 on May 24, 2021, Beijing time, Japan had a total of 719,925 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a total of 12,265 deaths. On May 23, Japan had 4,045 new confirmed cases and 62 new deaths.

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