TOKYO: As the clock ticks down to the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on July 23, Japan is preparing to host a Games like no other in history, as it grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the global situation has improved from a year ago, when the Games were postponed for the first time except for war, flare-ups of the disease worldwide mean organisers must hold the sporting extravaganza under strict rules to limit its spread.
Here is a look at the circumstances of these unprecedented Olympics, the second time Tokyo has hosted them since 1964.
SPECTATORS
Foreign spectators have been banned, and organisers are expected to make a decision late this month on domestic spectators.
Toshiaki Endo, vice president of the Tokyo organising committee, told Reuters some spectators could be allowed into venues, although he personally preferred a total ban to calm persistent public opposition to the Games.
The government is considering requiring those who attend to show either negative COVID-19 test results or vaccination records, media said. Bans on loud cheering or high-fives are among other possible steps.
PUBLIC OPINION
While recent opinion polls show some shift towards approval for the Games, earlier surveys revealed that 60% to 80% of respondents would have liked them either cancelled or postponed again. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said the findings will not affect plans to hold the Games.
The Games have already lost meaning and Japan has been "cornered" into pressing ahead, Kaori Yamaguchi, a member of the country's Olympic panel and a judo medallist, wrote in an opinion piece this month.
BUSINESS ATTITUDES
By the end of May, a growing number of investors in Japanese stocks believed that cancelling the Games would be better for the market. At the same time, a Reuters survey found that nearly 70 percent of businesses also wanted either another postponement or cancellation.
Many sponsors are uncertain how to proceed with advertising campaigns or marketing events because they do not know if domestic spectators will be allowed into the venues, sources at companies directly involved in sponsorship told Reuters.
Some business leaders have been even more outspoken. In May, Hiroshi Mikitani, who heads e-commerce giant Rakuten Group Inc , said Japan's low vaccination rate made it a "suicide mission" to host the Games.
MEDICAL SITUATION
Doctors have warned that the Games' need for medical staff could pressure a healthcare system already stressed by caring for virus patients, and officials in some areas have said they would not prioritise Olympics-related patients.
Organisers, though, said in late May they had lined up about 80% of the staff needed, with target numbers cut about a third from 10,000 originally.
Organisers are working with 10 hospitals in Tokyo and 20 outside the capital to ensure response to emergencies.
Reuters
Tue Jun 08 2021
Organisers are working with 10 hospitals in Tokyo and 20 outside the capital to ensure response to emergencies. REUTERSpic
Rusia, Malaysia jalin kerjasama dalam pelancongan mesra Muslim
Rusia dan Malaysia sedia utingkatkan pelancongan mesra Muslim menerusi kerjasama baharu antara badan pensijilan halal Rusia, Roskachestvo dan Pusat Pelancongan Islam Malaysia.
IShowSpeed tiba di KL, terima baju batik daripada peminat
Speed menerima hadiah daripada beberapa orang peminat Malaysia ketika kenderaannya berhenti di lampu isyarat di ibu negara pada Selasa,
Penyanyi Sean Diddy ditangakp di New York
Penerbit muzik terkenal, Puff Daddy atau lebih dikenali sebagai Sean Diddy Combs yang berdepan dengan beberapa tuduhan serangan seksual telah diberkas di Manhatann, New York oleh ejen persekutuan pada Isnin waktu tempatan.
10 maut, puluhan cedera bas Iran terbalik
Menurut angka awal, kemalangan itu mengakibatkan 10 maut dan 41 cedera.
Malaysia perlu melabur dalam infrastruktur
Pengarah Eksekutif Ukrainian Prism, Hennadiy Maksak berpandangan, Malaysia juga tidak boleh bergantung kepada satu laluan, selain menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan negara-negara jiran.
Lebih 1,000 rakyat termasuk pejuang Hezbollah cedera parah
Lebih seribu rakyat Lubnan termasuk anggota pejuang Hezbollah dan petugas perubatan cedera parah dalam satu letupan pada Selasa.
Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional memudahkan operasi perdagangan antara Malaysia dan China
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz berpendapat inisiatif Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional (National single window) yang bakal diharmonikan Bersama system kastam China akan memudahkan operasi perniagaan dan perdagangan (ease of doing business) antara Malaysia dan China.
Medan selera perlu ditambah baik, kemudahan asas tidak lengkap
Air bergenang di lantai dan tempias sehingga meja makan mengakibatkan pengunjung basah. Itu situasi apabila keadaan hujan lebat di Medan Selera Taman Makmur di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang menempatkan deretan 12 kedai makan.
Calon manfaat platform media sosial dekati pengundi luar
Kempen Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota turut memberi tumpuan kepada penggunaan media sosial bagi menambat hati pengundi luar selain kempen secara bersemuka.
Seorang wanita maut jatuh lubang saluran air
Seorang wanita maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam lubang saluran air sedalam dua meter ketika menyertai aktiviti mendaki di Bukit Cherok Tok Kun pada Selasa.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Britain buka permohonan visa kepada warga Hong Kong
Selepas menetap lima tahun, mereka juga dibolehkan untuk memohon kewarganegaraan.
Dream of maiden Olympic gold put on hold
When one looks back on this year, it is inevitable that the main topic of discussion will be the COVID-19 pandemic.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
AirAsia Japan tutup operasi serta-merta
Penutupan itu susulan impak besar COVID-19 serta larangan perjalanan yang menjejaskan permintaan penerbangan.
AirAsia Japan: AirAsia Group kaji pilihan mengenai operasinya di Jepun, kata Fernandes
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes berkata syarikat penerbangan tambang rendah itu terbuka untuk mengkaji semua pilihan membabitkan operasi di Jepun.
Ibu lawat teman lelaki, anak ditinggalkan mati kelaparan
Suspek dipercayai meninggalkan anaknya selama lebih seminggu untuk bertemu teman lelaki yang berada kira-kira 965 km di wilayah Kagoshima.
COVID-19: Tak boleh jerit naik roller coaster, 'hantu' jaga jarak sosial di taman tema Jepun
Dilarang menjerit ketika menaiki roller coaster, jaga jarak sosial dalam Rumah Hantu dan jangan high-five adiwira kegemaran anda.
MV Diamond Princess akan berlabuh di Port Klang, sah tiada kes COVID-19
Kapal persiaran MV Diamond Princesskini dalam perjalanan ke Malaysia untuk menambah stok barangan dan mengisi minyak.
COVID-19: Ratusan ribu bunga dicantas, elak orang ramai berkunjung ke taman
Walaupun Festival Tulip Sakura tahun ini dibatalkan, namun orang ramai masih mengunjungi lokasi tersebut untuk menikmati pemandangan cantik bunga-bunga di situ.