This archive report was first published on 21 June 2021.
June 21, 2021
Japan had hoped the Olympics would be a chance to showcase its recovery from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, decades of economic stagnation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the Games have become a source of confusion and frustration for the Japanese public, with the country fighting a fourth wave of COVID-19 and only 6% of its population fully vaccinated.
According to polls, the majority of the population does not want the Olympics to go ahead this summer, with many residents expressing fear and anger about the potential risks of an influx of people from over 200 countries.
Taro Kono, Japan's vaccine minister, has stated that 800,000 doses are being administered daily, with the goal of reaching 1 million doses per day by the end of June.
However, this rate would result in fewer than 20% of Japan's population being fully vaccinated by the time the Games begin.
Games organizers plan to vaccinate 18,000 Olympic workers, but with 70,000 volunteers, there won't be enough to go around, and it's unclear how many volunteers will receive a dose.
Volunteers have expressed concerns about their safety, with some quitting due to the pandemic and others feeling anxious and disillusioned about the decision to hold the Games despite the risks.
Warnings from Japan's medical community continue to grow, with the Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association calling for the Games to be canceled due to the potential strain on the country's already overstretched medical system.
Organizers insist that the Olympics can be held in a safe bubble, but public health experts warn that there are many ways for the bubble to be punctured, and the Games could further spread more contagious variants throughout Japan and around the world.
