Tokyo Olympics: A significant setback for the organisers, 10,000 volunteers withdrew their names

Web News Observer 15

TOKYO: With only 50 days left for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, the organisers have already suffered a significant setback. Out of the 80,000 scheduled volunteers, 10,000 volunteers have distanced themselves from the Games.

Olympic 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto has ruled out the possibility of postponing the Games again. She has said that the Games will be cancelled only in extreme circumstances.

Volunteers have withdrawn due to many reasons.

Last Wednesday night, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told local media that around 10,000 volunteers have withdrawn from the Games. Most of them have distanced themselves due to concerns related to Corona. Some even turned away because the Games were postponed for a year. Some people have also pulled up because of sexist remarks made by Hashimoto’s ancestors.

The decision may come soon on permission to domestic fans

Foreign fans have been barred from attending the Tokyo Olympics, and a decision could be taken later this month whether domestic fans will be allowed to come or not. The state of emergency ends in Tokyo on June 20. The number of foreign officials and participants has been halved and now stands at close to 78,000.

Games will be cancelled only in extreme circumstances – Hashimoto.

Hashimoto has said that the Games will be held and that it is inconceivable to cancel it. She told Nikkan Sports daily, “If various countries around the world experience very serious situations, and delegations from most countries can’t come, then we wouldn’t be able to hold it. But conversely, unless such a situation emerges, the Games will not be cancelled.”

Despite the decline in cases of corona infection, the situation in Japan remains worrying. Tokyo and many other states are in a state of emergency, which will last until June 20. In recent days, corona vaccination has gained momentum in the country. Still, only 2.7 per cent of the population of about 126 million people in Japan have been able to get the corona vaccine.

Also Read: ‘Covaxin’ clinical trial on 2-18 year olds begin at AIIMS Patna

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