"Olympic Boom Is a Thing of the Past" Self-Employed Entrepreneurs' Hopes Dashed by 4th Wave

Restaurants with empty tables despite Olympic opening
Enthusiastic cheers for 4th stage distancing are a thing of the past

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] "Olympic special demand? That's all old news."

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics opened on the 23rd, but unlike previous games, the public enthusiasm has not easily heated up. Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, street cheering events have disappeared, and with the strengthening of social distancing, there is a prevailing atmosphere of refraining from outdoor activities. The expectations of self-employed business owners who anticipated an Olympic boom with the one-year postponed opening have also been dashed.

In the metropolitan area, where social distancing level 4 is in effect, private gatherings of three or more people are prohibited from 6 p.m., making group cheering events impossible. Enthusiastic cheering was expected not only for popular sports like soccer and baseball but also for major medal events, but people can only cheer from home at best. Despite the unprecedented COVID-19 situation forcing the Olympics to proceed, the sight of athletes competing while wearing masks has made the act of cheering for the Olympics seem unfamiliar as well.

Given this situation, the sighs of self-employed business owners are deepening. Unlike recent tournaments held in Russia, Brazil, or the UK, this event taking place in Japan, which shares the same time zone as Korea, had led business owners to expect a boom by installing large screens, but they are now struggling with a different atmosphere than usual.

On the 28th, when the last group stage soccer match between Korea and Honduras was held, a chicken restaurant in Cheongna-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, was so quiet it felt almost desolate. The owner, Kim (35), said, "Three years ago during the World Cup, people stayed up late into the night to watch soccer, but this year, even though it's the Olympics, nothing special has changed," adding, "Neither the hall nor delivery orders have increased significantly compared to usual."

Similarly, office workers, whose outdoor activities have decreased due to strengthened social distancing and shifts to remote work, are also unable to fully feel the Olympic atmosphere. Because it is difficult to gather in groups due to COVID-19, watching games on TV at home is all they can do.

Office worker Song Won-geun (29) said, "In the past, I memorized the schedules of major games and gathered with friends to cheer when there was a gold medal event, but this year I can't do that, which is disappointing," adding, "Naturally, my interest in the games has decreased, and I only watch them occasionally when they are broadcast on TV, and I don't follow sports other than ball games like soccer or baseball."

The atmosphere at a nearby pub was not much different that day. Out of more than 20 tables, only six local residents who came to drink beer occupied seats. Even they sat two apart due to quarantine rules. The pub owner, Jeon (43), said, "Sales were already declining, but with the implementation of social distancing level 4, operating has become even more difficult," adding, "I had hoped for a slight Olympic boom, but due to quarantine rules, there has been no significant effect."