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[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Criticism is spreading within Japan following the news that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not attend the opening ceremony.
Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported on the 21st, "Former Prime Minister Abe has conveyed his intention to refrain from attending the Olympic opening ceremony," adding, "Considering the declaration of a COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo and the fact that most events will be held without spectators, he has decided not to attend."
Having promoted the Olympic bid as his greatest achievement, his sudden withdrawal has sparked a wave of criticism locally.
Japanese netizens commented, "He ignored the voices of citizens and experts who said the Games should be postponed for more than two years or canceled altogether, stubbornly insisting on a one-year delay for his own benefit, and now that the situation has turned out this way, he immediately ran away," "This is truly the height of cowardice," and "How can he withdraw from the Olympics himself and yet call those who oppose the Games 'anti-Japanese' people?"
They continued, "This Tokyo Olympics is the result showing the failure of former Prime Minister Abe and the current administration," and "Abe's absence from the opening ceremony means he has no intention of taking even a small share of responsibility for the failure."
Another netizen said, "We were looking forward to seeing him appear as Mario at the opening ceremony, but perhaps because he dislikes being in the spotlight, he even avoided that."
On the other hand, some welcomed the news of Abe's absence. One netizen said, "I never want to see former Prime Minister Abe and his wife again," and criticized, "He should shamelessly stop attending the opening ceremony of the Games he ruined and apologize first." Another netizen questioned, "Why invite someone who forced the Games to proceed and caused trouble to the opening ceremony?"
Former Prime Minister Abe appeared dressed as Super Mario at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil. Source=Yonhap News Agency
Earlier, former Prime Minister Abe attended the International Olympic Committee (IOC) General Assembly in September 2013, securing the Tokyo bid after an active campaign, and appeared dressed as the popular game character Super Mario at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil, promoting the Tokyo Olympics to the world.
When COVID-19 was spreading last March, he insisted on a "one-year postponement" during the decision with the IOC and others to delay the Olympics, based on political calculations considering his term in office.
Meanwhile, most foreign heads of state are also expected to skip the Olympic opening ceremony. It is reported that only about 20 people, including French President Emmanuel Macron, from the 2024 Paris Olympics host country, and Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene, will attend the ceremony.
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