Japanese Olympic Committee: Tokyo Olympics Could Become a "Minus Legacy"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Despite the daily occurrence of over 6,000 COVID-19 cases, the Japanese government is pushing forward with the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, raising concerns even within the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC).

According to the Tokyo Shimbun on the 12th, Kaori Yamaguchi, a JOC director, stated in an interview with the newspaper, "If it is impossible to convey to the public the significance or value of pushing ahead with the event and to inspire them, it may remain as a 'negative legacy.'"

She continued, "All citizens have been forced to endure the COVID-19 disaster, cooperating and holding on for over a year. However, the government is treating the Olympics as an exception and is looking for ways to hold the event."

Director Yamaguchi mentioned that while the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee is implementing thorough infection control measures for test events, the public sees this and wonders, 'What makes this event different from others?'

Regarding the plan for athletes to receive vaccines provided separately by pharmaceutical companies ahead of others, she pointed out, "Even healthcare workers and caregiving staff, who look after patients and the elderly, are waiting their turn. But athletes have requested to cut in line for the Olympics, which raises ethical issues about changing the priority of saving lives."

She also noted that tens of thousands of people, including athletes, gathering would require additional medical personnel, saying, "Neither the government nor the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has explained the significance or value of holding the event despite the potential impact on healthcare. I myself find it impossible to explain."

Director Yamaguchi warned, "If it ultimately leads to the spread of infection, it could result in backlash against the athletes and the Olympics. When considering sports after the Olympics, it is important to carefully think about whether holding the event will be a positive or negative."

She criticized, "The issues of commercialism and overexpansion in the Olympics have been hidden behind a thin curtain, but they have been tolerated under the notion of it being a 'global festival.' However, with the COVID-19 disaster overlapping, we can no longer ignore the dirty places behind the curtain."

She also said, "The enlarged Olympics have become entangled with profits to the extent that it seems impossible to identify who is responsible or to make decisions about changing direction."

Meanwhile, Director Yamaguchi was the first Japanese female athlete to win the World Judo Championships in 1984 and won a bronze medal in the 52 kg category at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Having served as a JOC director since 2011, she publicly criticized the IOC in March last year for planning to hold the Olympics as scheduled amid the spread of COVID-19 and advocated for postponing the Games.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.