Thread by @tkatsumi06j

#Tokyo2020 2021/5/23 As a first Japanese newspaper to officially call for the cancellation of the Games, Shinano Daily @shinmaiweb published an editorial calling for the government of Japan to "decide to cancel the Tokyo Olympic Games." @JulesBoykoff @dicklp @StephenWadeAP

https://twitter.com/shinmaiweb/status/1396276875731771393

The paper raised the issue where "people are dying with lack of sick beds and proper treatment" and that "medical professionals are suffering from excessive burden and some even choose to take their own lives due to economic hardships".

The paper pointed out that even if infections can be controlled by July 23, the day of the opening of the Games, "available resources must be allocated for the next wave." For these reasons, the paper argued that "both the Olympic & Paralympic games should be called off."

The paper then laid out the three causes for calling off the Games. First, the collapsing medical capacity. Fourteen prefectures subject to State of Emergency declaration since last January suffered at least 78 deaths due to resting at home or waiting to be hospitalized.

The paper said, "as of May 12, there are 34,537 people are recovering at home [without treatment]. The government is now unable to ascertain the number of deaths that are occurring outside the medical facilities."

The paper then calls for the immediate establishment of system of burden-sharing between private and public medical institutions where patients are taken care non-stop, from recovering at home to hospitalization, according to changes in conditions of the patient.

The editorial then cautions about the slow rollout of vaccines, that at its current rate, "achievement of herd immunity is improbable by the time of the opening of the Games, much less the completion of vaccination of elderly people."

The editorial then criticizes the govt plan to allow preferential treatment for the Olympic athletes with 24/7 treatment & testing opportunities backed by daily PCR tests for all 15K athletes and 80K officials, along with 7K dedicated medical staff & 30 designated hospitals.

As a second cause, the editorial questions the purpose of the Games, citing the fact that overseas spectators were banned & many events were cancelled, saying "the whole meaning of people gathering from around the world to better appreciate each other & promote peace is waning."

The editorial also pointed out the apparent failures of the "test games" where some were held without spectators or without foreign athletes. "It was hardly a production-based trial" and without fair representation of all athletes, it could hardly be called a 'fair game'.

As a third and final cause, the editorial raised the issue of social division caused by the government's insistence in holding the Games. It points out how it all started out to be a "compact game" aiming for "recovery of affected regions" and a "symbol of recovery from COVID."

"It has all fallen apart," wrote the editorial. It pointed out the budget more than doubled without transparency or plans to address how the Game's established infrastructures contribute in resolving the various metropolitan issues surrounding diminishing population.

The editorial pointed out the outpouring distrust towards the Olympic Spirit among people when the former head of the organizing committee made that sexist remarks and when the PM redefined the purpose of the Games saying it was "to demonstrate the unity of the humanity."

The editorial dismisses the possibility of re-postponement of the Games to due to various difficulties surrounding the logistics and added cost, much less the safety of all people involved, foreign and domestic.

The editorial then concludes by cautioning about the COVID19 variants storming through Asia saying, "the government should prioritize their response against the pandemic, build an exit strategy, and make its decision to ensure people's lives and livelihood are safeguarded."

@threadreaderapp please unroll.