The International Olympic Games Committee and Tokyo organisers are facing an increasingly more precarious and volatile situation as preparations forge ahead in anticipation of July 23.
A recent poll revealed that around 83 per cent of respondents are now calling on officials for the Games to be cancelled – roughly 16 per cent more than what had been reported in April.
Meanwhile, an online petition against the Olympic Games continuing in Tokyo this year has now officially garnered nearly half a million signatures. Even so, the Olympic Committee remains adamant about the Games being set to continue as planned.
What makes the poll all the more significant is that it was conducted by local newspaper Asahi Shimbun, one of the official sponsors of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. While they’ve reportedly already contributed around $AU70 million in sponsorship money, they’ve their willingness to write it off abundantly clear.
The main problem appears to be that of the International Olympic Committee being unwilling to forfeit the hundreds of millions of dollars already invested in Tokyo 2020 – with senior IOC member Richard Pound in the meantime insisting that only Armageddon will be considered reason enough to call off the event.
Most Olympic athletes are continuing with training as if the Games will indeed commence on July 23, which is a clear show of their willingness to simply drown out the news as they prepare to compete.
With there now being less than 50 days to go, the likelihood of a postponement is beginning to wear thin – even in the face of massive criticism and controversy.
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