Japan Has "Privately Concluded" That The 2021 Olympics Will Have to Be Cancelled

[FelineOverlord]

I feel so bad for the athletes who have spent their lives waiting for this moment and may never get their chance.

Link to tweet

[roamer65]

1. They didn't get to hold them in 1940 either.

World War 2.

In this case just move them to 2022.

[USALiberal]

2. I am a lot more worried about 2 million people dead and many losing everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nt

[FelineOverlord]

3. Japan Has "Privately Concluded" That The 2021 Olympics Will Have to Be Cancelled

Japan is having a terrible outbreak and I read they weren't even getting vaccines until May?

Although that may have changed. Doesn't look like they handled the pandemic particularly well.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/19/national/politics-diplomacy/taro-kono-coronavirus-vaccines/

[miyazaki]

5. Their rate of death is 1.2% of ours. How better do they have to do?

Given the elderly population, city densities, and massive public transportation, it's a shock there aren't more deaths.

It's been mused that the games would continue without public audiences. Until now I guess.

As far as vaccines are concerned, many here will not get vaccinated until who the eff knows when.

[dsp3000]

9. Covid tests aren't as widely available in Japan... they are following the tactics of no data no prob

Mask wearing, however is ingrained in Japanese society well before covid, which might explain why it's not as bad, but it's probably worse than what they are reporting.

[central scrutinizer]

7. Total cumulative deaths are 4,743

We lose almost that many every day

[BigmanPigman]

4. I heard a week ago that they were going ahead with the plans.

They lost so much money postponing it that they were determined to make this happen. They said if they postponed again it likely wouldn't be rescheduled and would have to absorb the financial loss. Too bad, they were so excited.

[DonaldsRump]

6. Why don't they shift Tokyo to 2024 and move all other Summer Olympic cities back by 4 years?

This is a global catastrophe. Let Tokyo have it in 2024 and the other cities can wait their respective turns too, just waiting 4 years.

[roamer65]

10. That would work as well.

Be interesting to see if the Chinese still hold the Winter Games in Beijing in 2022.

They are only about one year away.

[Wednesdays]

8. Well, that sucks.

[a kennedy]

11. Damn.........yah, feel terrible for the athletes as well......eom

[BGBD]

12. The games can be played

We have college sports, MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL all playing. There isn't any reason the Olympics couldn't be played either.

Use the bubble model from the NBA and don't admit spectators.

Give Japan another games and move this one to elsewhere if needed.

If they think they can't do it, its because they want the spectators for the $$.

[Xolodno]

13. Just move it to 2022 or 2023 if need be....

...and start the four year clock from there. They invested in the infrastructure already, why take the financial hit? It also gives Paris more breathing room due to the pandemic. And Los Angeles, well, they already have the infrastructure in place from the last two times they hosted, so its no big deal if they have to wait a bit longer.