Tokyo Residents Fear The Olympics Will Carry The Virus

JAKARTA - After Tokyo implemented a state of emergency for the second time this Friday, many residents of the city feel heavy and even impossible to hold the 2021 Olympics safely.

The Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March last year decided to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global multievent sporting event is scheduled to stay in around 200 days, from 23 July to 8 August.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed his determination to continue to hold this Olympics.

However, a poll conducted by the NHK television station last month showed that a third of the country's population wanted the Olympics to be canceled due to fears that the flood of foreigners to their country when the event was held could further increase cases of COVID-19 infection.

In the same poll, 31 percent of respondents supported postponing again, while another 27 percent said the Olympics should be held according to a predetermined schedule.

"I think it's difficult. It's impossible to hold an Olympics," said 75-year-old Tatsuhiko Akamasu who this Friday visited Tokyo from Saitama.

"There are only two and a half months to go to the Olympic torch relay. I don't think we will be able to control the virus during this period."

The Olympic torch parade that usually marks the countdown to the Olympics will begin in Fukushima on March 25.

"I think it is more likely we will not be able to hold the Olympics and in some cases I would prefer the government to make the decision to cancel it," said 74-year-old Hisashi Miyabe.

About 15,000 athletes from all over the world are expected to come to Tokyo for the Olympics and this makes them worried that the athletes will carry a new mutation virus to Japan.

"I think interactions between humans will make the spread of the corona virus more rapidly, and it is possible that the virus could mutate if the number of infections increases. I find it a bit scary," said 23-year-old student Yuki Furusho.