As COVID empties the Tokyo 2020 bleachers, will the economic benefits of hosting in the first place outweigh the losses incurred by not having tourists?
The British government has opted to press on with reopening and not wait for the number of fully vaccinated people to rise, while Japan introduces new restrictions ahead of the Olympics.
Concerns about holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games during a state of emergency highlights just how much power the International Olympic Committee wields over the global sporting world.
The IOC was under considerable pressure to host the 1920 games. While a noble goal, it resulted in significant hardships for war-torn Belgium and the athletes themselves.
How well are the Tokyo Olympics prepared for a COVID crisis when there is still an outbreak in the country, the vaccination rates are low and athletes are asked to socially distance?
The International Olympic Committee’s Rule 50 still restricts the freedom of speech of athletes, despite the recently relaxed stipulations. A respected Olympian says the IOC must change its policy.
The emotive and polarising language surrounding the Olympic weightlifter – and transgender rights in general – is crowding out the voices we need to hear most.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is sinking in the polls under intense criticism over his handling of the Tokyo Games. And yet, he may still get over the line in national elections this year.
The decision to cancel the games lies ultimately with the International Olympic Committee – an extraordinary power that explains why Tokyo is pressing ahead.
Japan is going through its fourth wave, testing rates are low and case numbers are climbing. Now athletes aren’t happy with the IOC’s plans to protect them.
Clinician Scientist, Canada Research Chair in Injury Prevention and Physical Activity for Health, Sport Medicine Physician, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Honorary Professor, School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, Canada; Adjunct Fellow, Olympic Scholar and Co-Director of the Olympic and Paralympic Research Centre, Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University