The majority of Japanese oppose the holding of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which is postponed to next year due to the Corona pandemic, and prefer a new postponement or a complete cancellation of the sporting event

The new data shows that public sentiment has changed since the summer, when opinion polls in Japan also found that only a minority supports plans to hold the Games next year, despite the impending arrival of new vaccines.

An opinion poll published by the Japanese National Radio "NHK" on Tuesday showed that only 27% of those polled support holding the Games next year, while 32% support its cancellation, and 31% support a new postponement.

The rest of the respondents were either not sure of their answers, or they did not provide any answer.

Olympic organizers and Japanese officials have ruled out any further delay for the Summer Olympics, the first to be postponed in peacetime.

They insist that the games can be held even if the epidemic is not under control by the new opening date of July 23, 2021.

But the Japanese public does not seem convinced.

Another opinion poll published by the Japanese news agency "Jiji" on Monday showed that 21% support the cancellation, and about 30% support another delay.

A Kyodo News poll published on the sixth of December indicated that 61.2% oppose the holding of the Games next year.

Japan has seen a relatively small outbreak of Covid-19 overall, with more than 2,500 deaths out of 170,000 confirmed cases.

The Asian country is facing a third wave of the pandemic, as it recently recorded record numbers of daily infections across the country.

The additional cost of the postponement will reach 2.4 billion US dollars, according to what the organizers announced at the beginning of this month, noting that 1.5 billion dollars will be allocated to operating costs related to the delay, with 900 million dollars allocated to spending on measures to combat the Corona pandemic.

The cost could rise even further, as organizers announced that they will disburse an additional $ 250 million in "emergency" funds to help cover the expenses.

But more delay means more spending, and that could stir public opinion in Japan.

Source: "AFP"

By:Nadeemy Haded