Concerns about the 2021 Tokyo Olympics have only spiraled downward in recent months. The Tokyo event was postponed last year due to COVID-19 concerns and has been subject to strict restrictions in order to proceed this year. Still, despite 80% of competing athletes being vaccinated and games starting in less than a week, the virus already infiltrated the athlete’s living facilities as a staff member tested positive yesterday (Friday, July 16th). Protests have already begun outside of Olympic Village, the two-week home of over 11,000 Olympic athletes, over concerns that COVID-19 exposure at the event could be detrimental to an already suffering Tokyo population.
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The infected worker, whose duties were described as “games-concerned personnel”, has been placed on a 14-day quarantine and is reportedly not a Japanese resident. Still, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is feeling the heat as Japanese protestors grow in numbers and try to stop the games from happening.
Early last month, the IOC banned fans from attending any Olympic Games but it seems this isn’t enough for Tokyo residents who are already under a state of emergency after a rise in cases.
Polls show that less than 50% of Japanese citizens want the games to happen at this time, and with less than 30% of Japan being fully vaccinated, many don’t blame them. Still, IOC President Thomas Bach asserted this week that there is no risk COVID-19 could be transmitted between athletes or with the outside world.
The games are set to begin on Friday, July 23rd.
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