Japan has had the difficult task of preparing for the 2020 Summer Olympics, postponing the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tim Culpan had this information in Asharq Al-Awsat. Here is an excerpt:

Everybody loves the Olympic Games. Except when you’re the host nation in the middle of a pandemic.

Unfortunately for Japan’s government, it’s not really up to them to decide whether the Games of the 32nd Olympiad get cancelled. While Tokyo could theoretically pull the plug right now — two months from the rescheduled start date — the city is contractually obliged to go ahead. With Covid-19 cases once again surging, parts of the nation (including Tokyo) under a state of emergency and vaccine rates in the single digits, it’s unsurprising that 59% of Japanese say the event should be cancelled.

Those voices against proceeding, while vociferous, are largely confined to Japan. Rakuten Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Hiroshi Mikitani and SoftBank Group Corp. founder Masayoshi Son are among those vocalizing their opposition.

Read the full article here.