Tokyo Olympics looking more and more likely to be canned

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GSManiac

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#280967 22-Jan-2021 13:56

Much to the surprise of no one.
I can’t see it happening.
Sucks for the athletes who will in 3 years time be facing better and younger rivals.

https://kslsports.com/451504/report-japan-privately-concludes-tokyo-olympics-will-be-canceled-due-to-coronavirus/

Oblivian

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#2640138 22-Jan-2021 13:59

One news this morning, the main sport story was IOS confirming it WILL go ahead. And it WILL have crowds. No other option (probably to get some of the 25bn investment back)

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/434945/tokyo-games-will-go-ahead-ioc-head-bach

I see a spat ahead.

sen8or

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#2640144 22-Jan-2021 14:29

Case numbers soaring, death numbers soaring, new variants with unknown consequences and/or unknown response to the vaccine?

I can understand that the athletes have trained hard and this is their crowning competition, BUT, it seems rather optimistic that they games will go ahead at all, let alone have crowds attend.

Cancel games, shift schedule by 4 years so that Tokyo can still host in 2024.

frankv

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#2640146 22-Jan-2021 14:37

Oblivian:

And it WILL have crowds. No other option (probably to get some of the 25bn investment back)

I'd have thought that the TV rights would be the big moneyspinner for the Olympics, and that physical spectators are there kindof as a self-funding backdrop and cheering machine.

Oblivian

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#2640147 22-Jan-2021 14:45

frankv:

Oblivian:

And it WILL have crowds. No other option (probably to get some of the 25bn investment back)

I'd have thought that the TV rights would be the big moneyspinner for the Olympics, and that physical spectators are there kindof as a self-funding backdrop and cheering machine.

Yeah, traditionally mostly made up of rights. In large amounts. But still. 'some' will be physicals too :) Some of those finals tickets don't go cheap!

wellygary

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#2640162 22-Jan-2021 15:23

frankv:

Oblivian:

And it WILL have crowds. No other option (probably to get some of the 25bn investment back)

I'd have thought that the TV rights would be the big moneyspinner for the Olympics, and that physical spectators are there kindof as a self-funding backdrop and cheering machine.

The $25 billion is the money spent by japan to host the games, they "make" money by having 100,000s of big spending foreign tourists in town spending up large,- This boat has pretty much sailed,

The IOC on the other hand make their money from the Ticket sales and more importantly the TV/streaming rights, ( Billions every games)- so they would still be keen on the event occurring to make a bit of coin ...

Scott3

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#2640184 22-Jan-2021 16:45

Oblivian:

One news this morning, the main sport story was IOS confirming it WILL go ahead. And it WILL have crowds. No other option (probably to get some of the 25bn investment back)

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/434945/tokyo-games-will-go-ahead-ioc-head-bach

I see a spat ahead.

Similar to what was said several months ago. IOC was adamant it would go ahead, dispute the pandemic spiraling out of control. Japan couldn't take a different stance due to contractual obligations.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/20/japan-plans-mass-vaccinations-ahead-of-olympic-games

Timeline proposed for mass vaccination in the above article is very tight. They plan to start vaccinating in May, and to have the majority of adults (50%+) done by July. Given most of the vaccines require 2 shots spaced 4 weeks or so apart and then need a bit of time for immunity to develop, it seems unworkable to have a decent chunk of the population immune by the start of the games.

And the logistical effort of rolling out vaccinations to the majority of adults in just two months seems infeasible too.

They say the games can go ahead without vaccinations, but with 80%+ of the japan population support canceling the games, that would be deeply unpopular.

Also continues globally would need to decide that athletes are are a priory category for vaccinations, in order to keep risks to the athletes themselves to a minimum. The Olympics in general is not an environment great for social distancing.

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gzt

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#2640430 23-Jan-2021 08:05

Going ahead is not sensible. End of story. After that realisation, it's just a matter of figuring out if anything can be salvaged.

Some competition can be virtual. Ie; simultaneous events in different countries. There would be all kinds of inequalities and shenanigans - but there would be an Olympics, medals, records.

Another option, postpone for a year and review in six months. Imo probably get pushed again, best case time to resolution is two years imo. Keep the same selections and all that in the meantime. Virtual is the best option imo, at least something happens in Olympic history.