Tokyo Olympics: Too big to cancel?

It’s been described as the Olympics no one wants…

That might be a bit of a stretch. But with 60 days to go until the Tokyo Games Japan remains in a state of emergency.

Doctor’s in Osaka have warned that hospitals are close to collapse, while just 4 per cent of the population having taken at least one dose of a vaccine.

“Simply put, this is a collapse of the medical system,” said Yuji Tohda, the director of Kindai University Hospital in Osaka.

These same doctors have called for the games to be scrapped and they’re not the only ones.

The Olympics have already been postponed by one year. Recent polls suggest between 60 and 80 per cent of Japanese citizens want it postponed again, or cancelled all-together.

It comes as the U. S. State Department warned Americans to avoid travelling to Japan, raising its travel alert to the highest level.

Japan has lagged behind when it comes to securing vaccines and then finding enough staff to administer the shots, but it might be a case of too big to cancel.

The International Olympic Committee says the show will go on regardless of the state of emergency, despite Prime Minister Suga extending Covid-19 restrictions.

Whatever happens, it’s going to be an Olympics unlike any other.