This year's Olympics began just a few weeks ago and has already faced a number of controversies. The downward spiral began with Sha'Carri Richardson, the fastest woman in America, who was kicked off Team USA following a positive drug test for cannabis. This was in spite of the fact that marijuana consumption was legal in the state where she took it, and marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug. Despite the fact that marijuana is legal in the state where she took it; her biological mother died just days before she used it; and she just found out about it from a random reporter and the fact that marijuana is not a performance-enhancing substance. On the topic of drug tests, champion hurdler, Brianna McNeal, has been suspended from this and the following Olympics after failing to show up for a drug-screening in January. McNeal claims she was in bed healing from an abortion when the anti-doping officer knocked on her door; her career is virtually finished now.
While there are several other controversies, the most prominent is the current Covid-19 issue in Japan, as well as the ongoing discussion over whether or not the Olympics should be cancelled.
According to The Japan Times, host city Tokyo registered 1,832 positive cases on the 21st of July, an increase of over 700 cases and the “sixth highest daily total ever in the capital”. Experts have warned of a potential “critical” coronavirus scenario in Tokyo, predicting that illnesses may spike even more during the games in early August. There were 848,222 confirmed cases and 15,062 fatalities as of July 21. Only 22% of Japan's 126 million people have been completely vaccinated since vaccinations began in February.
However, precautions are being taken, such as daily testing of all international athletes and support staff. Athletes are not required to be vaccinated, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expects around 80% of them to be. Unfortunately, more than 90 people linked to the Games have tested positive so far, including British athlete Amber Hill, who has withdrawn from the women's skeet competition. And after a state of emergency was imposed in Tokyo on July 8, all spectators were prohibited. It will be in place until August 22nd.
So, with all of these consequences, why weren't the games cancelled? The IOC's contract with the host city of Tokyo mandates that only the IOC has the authority to cancel the event. The IOC is thought to make around 70% of its money from broadcast rights and 18% from sponsorship. IOC president Thomas Bach said the prospect of rescheduling the competition "caused sleepless nights." He demanded that the Games be held "to give hope" for the future. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the president of the World Health Organization, also endorsed the tournament, claiming that it might demonstrate what can be done with the proper Covid-19 protections.
Although officials are enthusiastic about the games, Japanese citizens have a different approach. Several towns that were supposed to host athletes withdrew earlier this year due to concerns about Covid-19 and increased strain on the healthcare system. In May, a Japanese medics' union said the Games would be "impossible" to hold because of the pandemic and according to a poll published in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in May, more than 80% of the people voted for them to be cancelled or postponed.
What would happen to the athletes if the Olympics were to be cancelled? Athletes, it is argued, would be the ones who suffer the most if the Olympics were to be cancelled. According to World Athletics President Seb Coe, 70% of those pursuing Olympic participation will only have one chance to compete at what is likely to be the pinnacle of their sporting careers. Cancelling the Games would be "discarding a generation of athletes who have spent over half of their young lives in pursuit of this one moment."
Overall, the argument over the Olympics is never-ending, and the games will very certainly go on regardless of the deadly Covid-19 scenario.
Comments