Japan has been ‘cornered’ into hosting the Tokyo Games and athletes should revolt against them, according to one of the country’s most pr...
Japan has been ‘cornered’ into hosting the Tokyo Games and athletes should revolt against them, according to one of the country’s most prominent Olympic figures.
Kaori Yamaguchi, who is a senior member of Japan’s Olympic committee and former Olympic medallist, has launched an unprecedented attack on organisers for pressing ahead with the Games despite widespread opposition from the public amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an opinion piece for Japan’s Kyodo news agency, she wrote: ‘The Games have already lost meaning and are being held just for the sake of them.
One of Japan's most prominent Olympic figures says athletes should revolt the Tokyo Games
Kaori Yamaguchi claims the country is being cornered into hosting the Games this summer
‘I believe we have already missed the opportunity to cancel. It would require too much energy to make and follow through with such a decision.
‘We have been cornered into a situation where we cannot even stop now. We are damned if we do and damned if we do not.
‘The Japanese government, the organising committee of the Olympics and Paralympics and the International Olympic Committee appear to be avoiding dialogue despite the concerns that many Japanese citizens harbour about the hosting of the sporting event,
‘The IOC seems to think that public opinion in Japan is not important. What will these Olympics be for and for whom?
Ten areas in Japan are in a state of emergency and public opinion polls favour a cancellation
‘The power of sports is of little comfort to people worried about the medical situation and their future lives.
‘This presents a good opportunity for athletes to confront the Olympics. I hope athletes will use this experience to grow into people who can speak out and debate.
‘I also hope that they will have the determination to change the sports world into one where people can once again support them wholeheartedly.’
Japan citizens have even taken to the streets to show their disapproval and anger at plans
Meanwhile, two of Great Britain’s most successful Olympians are in action this weekend in their bid to make it to Tokyo.
Four-time gold medallist Sir Mo Farah, 38, is running at the University of Birmingham in the 10,000 metres trials on Saturday and will qualify for the Games if he finishes in the top two in a time of 27 minutes and 28 seconds.
Alistair Brownlee, 33, is racing tomorrow (Sun) in the World Triathlon series event in Leeds and needs a strong performance to prove he should be selected to go for a third gold medal over his higher-ranked team-mate, 23-year-old Alex Yee.
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