Why are the Tokyo Olympics still going ahead in a pandemic? w/ Motoko Rich
Episode 89, Apr 02, 2021, 10:00 AM
Despite the ongoing pandemic and a lack of vaccinations in Japan, the Olympics are scheduled to begin on July 23, 2021.
With medical experts worried that the Olympics will turn into a superspreader event, polls show that the Japanese public is overwhelmingly not on board with the Games. Yet things are going full steam ahead, with test events taking place, athletes arriving and the torch relay beginning last week.
Joining Deep Dive is the New York Times Tokyo bureau chief Motoko Rich, here to discuss why the government seems so intent on holding the Games this summer, and the risks associated with them going ahead as planned.
Read more:
Read more:
- Why ‘cursed’ Olympics are pressing ahead amid a pandemic (Motoko Rich and Hikari Hida, The New York Times)
- Experts fear the Olympics could trigger a global superspreader event (The Japan Times)
- Tokyo Olympic torch relay begins amid COVID-19 fears (The Japan Times)
- Japanese stars have no burning desire to be involved in torch relay (The Japan Times)
- 'Unavoidable': Overseas fans barred from Tokyo Olympics over virus (The Japan Times)
On this episode:
Motoko Rich: Twitter | Articles
Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram
Announcements:
Motoko Rich: Twitter | Articles
Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram
Announcements:
Deep Dive will be going on hiatus for three months until July 2021. Subscribe to the show and sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list to be notified when we return. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp.
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Photo: The Olympic rings are reinstalled at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo on Dec. 1, 2020. | REUTERS