Suga on Opposition to Hosting Tokyo Olympics: "Public Safety Comes First"

Poll Shows 60% of Respondents Say "Olympic Games Should Be Canceled"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the spread of COVID-19 in Japan shows no signs of slowing down, voices calling for the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are emerging. In response, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga emphasized that hosting the Olympics is not the top priority. This has been interpreted as a statement by Prime Minister Suga, whose approval ratings have recently declined, reflecting public opinion.

According to major foreign media on the 10th, during a parliamentary session, when reporters asked how the Olympics would be handled if the number of COVID-19 cases surged further, Prime Minister Suga replied, "I have never considered hosting the Olympics as my top priority."

Prime Minister Suga stressed, "My priority is to protect the lives of the people," and "Stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus comes first."

He also emphasized that the final decision on whether to hold the Olympics lies with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and that the government’s role is solely to consider the safety of the people.

Prime Minister Suga’s remarks came immediately after a public opinion poll showed that 60% of Japanese citizens believe the Tokyo Olympics should be canceled. According to a telephone survey conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun from the 7th to the 9th among 1,092 Japanese voters, 59% of respondents said the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games should be canceled. The dominant opinion was that it is risky to forcibly hold the Olympics amid the severe COVID-19 situation.

As the COVID-19 crisis prolongs, the approval rating of the Suga Cabinet continues to decline. In this poll, the approval rating of the Suga Cabinet was 43%, down 4 percentage points from last month’s survey. The percentage of respondents who do not support the Suga Cabinet rose 6 percentage points to 46%, surpassing the approval rating.

Additionally, a petition demanding the cancellation of the Olympics gathered over 300,000 signatures within five days of its launch.

In Japan, while the spread of COVID-19 is not subsiding, the vaccination rate remains at only 2.4% as of the 8th, causing difficulties for health authorities in controlling the virus. Tokyo, where the Olympics are to be held, recently announced plans to extend the state of emergency until the end of May.

On the other hand, the IOC maintains its stance to proceed with the Olympics as scheduled. IOC member John Coates said, "The Japanese public’s opposition to hosting the Olympics is a matter of concern," but added, "There is no reason to give up on holding the Olympics."

According to the current plan, the Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8.