The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, rescheduled for this July and August but still keeping the 2020 name, will be a landmark event that demonstrates the best of Japan and helps the world celebrate as it turns the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic. Or it will be a costly and unnecessary event that most people in the country want to be canceled and that will needlessly put thousands of athletes and spectators at risk of falling victim to a resurgent coronavirus. As if the world didn’t have enough to argue about already.
Officially, there is no doubt that the games will proceed this summer, the Olympics on July 23 and the Paralympics on Aug. 24. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in his New Year’s message that the games “symbolize the unity of the world” and that “we will advance our preparations thoroughly so as to achieve games that are safe and secure.” He remained confident even as he reluctantly imposed a new state of emergency for Tokyo on Jan. 7 as cases there spiked, even though the numbers remain small compared to Europe and North America. Under pressure from regional leaders, he added seven more prefectures on Jan. 15, covering about half of the country’s population. By international standards, the measures remain uniquely mild. People are encouraged to avoid needless trips, business are urged to let people work from home, and restaurants and bars are asked to close by 8 p.m.
