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The postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics are likely to be held without fans from foreign countries. According to sources close to the Japanese Olympics Committee, the postponed 2020 Olympics will be held with only fans from Japan in the venues. The decision is said would only be wise as it would be “unwise” to have fans from other countries, where various variants of COVID-19 are spreading, go to Tokyo to watch the Olympics.
The postponed 2020 Olympics will be held from 23rd July to 8th August 2021. The Paralympics, on the other hand, will be held starting on the 21st of August and ending on the 5th of September 2021. The move to bar fans from other countries is unfortunate and could have far-reaching adverse effects on the benefits that Japan will reap as the host country for the postponed 2020 Olympics.
COVID-19 A Big Hit to Japan’s Expected Gains for Being the Olympics Host
The Summer Olympics are a major sporting event, and host nations enjoy a lot of business, trade, and tourism owing to fans from other countries visiting the host nation to watch the Olympics in the various venues. Shops, restaurants, accommodation facilities, and tourist attractions see a major boost in business and reap huge benefits from the large number of foreigners that visit to watch the Olympics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major detriment to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which had to be postponed for a year due to the pandemic. Even though there are now vaccines that have been tested to be effective against the novel coronavirus disease, numerous variants spread across the world. Japan has borne a relatively mild brunt of the pandemic as the country has lost over 8,000 people to coronavirus, a small ratio compared to the overall global deaths due to COVID-19.
The Unfortunate Postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
As the host of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan was very unlucky to have coronavirus emerge that same year when the country was expected to hold the international sporting event. The Olympics are big business for the host country, and nations invest tens of billions of dollars to prepare to host the event.
Therefore, it is unfortunate for Japan that the Olympics had to be postponed last year, and even more so if there won’t be foreign visitors visiting the country to watch the sporting event. Japan has invested a lot of money and effort to ensure that the games sail through smoothly, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous complications it has led to.
An Unrelenting Virus
The novel coronavirus is still spreading globally, and the new British, Brazilian, and South African variants of the disease have made the pandemic worse globally. The variants are a major setback for vaccine production efforts as they mean new vaccines have to be created, or existing ones modified, to tackle the new COVID-19 variants. Vaccine production is negatively affected, as is the timeline and roll-out of vaccines for the variants and the logistics of vaccination.
After a gruesome year of COVID-19, this is unfortunate news. Nations worldwide have borne extensive adverse effects owing to the pandemic, and many are reeling from economic downturns, recessions, and even a drop in employment, production, and overall productivity. The pandemic has seen the demise of over two million, six hundred thousand people globally, a deplorable and saddening figure. We send our deepest and sincerest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones due to this pandemic and pray that it comes to an end as soon as possible.
Japan Likely to Brace Itself for Tough Economic and Public Safety Decisions on the Horizon
Japan may have to brace itself for lack of profitability for the now-postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and try to find other ways and alternatives to break even. A good way to do this would be to ensure that the Olympics are broadcasted worldwide and that some broadcasting revenue goes back to the country. The Olympics should not be about money or profitability, and Japan should aim to illuminate the importance of the Olympics as a uniting factor for the world. Japan should sell the Olympics as an opportunity for the world to come together as one, especially after going through the terrible coronavirus pandemic.
