The Tokyo Olympics were postponed from 2020 to 2021. And now, things still don’t seem to be looking up for the blockbuster event.
A three-week state of emergency was declared on April 24 in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo after Japan reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in three months. As an outcome of that, International Olympics Association president Thomas Bach was compelled to cancel his upcoming visit to Japan.
Now, Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka said she is “not sure” whether the Tokyo Olympics should go ahead. “I'm an athlete, and of course my immediate thought is that I want to play in the Olympics. But as a human, I would say we're in a pandemic, and if people aren't healthy, and if they're not feeling safe, then it's definitely a really big cause for concern,” Osaka was quoted as saying by the AFP.
Osaka is scheduled to take on Jessica Pegula in the Round 32 of the Italian Open on May 12.
Around 10,000 participants from 200 nations are expected to take part in the Games scheduled to begin from July 23. But a decision on how many fans, if any, can enter the sporting venues is expected in June. “I've never played an Olympic event, so it's not like I would have anything to compare it to,” she added.
The Games are barely three months away, and at least 60% of Japanese people want the event cancelled, according to a survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper from May 7 to 9. Around 39% of people said the Games must be held, out of which 23% are not in favour of spectators.
Nishikori not upbeat either
Kei Nishikori, another Japan tennis star playing at the ongoing Italian Open, is not positive about the situation in Japan. “This is not like 100 people like these tournaments. It's 10,000 people in a village, playing a tournament. I don't think it's easy, especially with what's happening right now in Japan, it's not doing good,” Nishikori was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Nishikori got a walkover victory against Spain’s Carreno Busta in the round of 32 after beating Fabio Fognini in straight sets in the round of 64.
