The Telegraph
Tokyo Olympics’ official partner calls for Games to be cancelled
One of the largest newspapers in Japan has called for the Olympics to be cancelled due to public safety fears amid soaring Covid-19 rates. Asahi Shimbun, a respected title with a circulation of more than five million, has spoken out despite being an official partner of the Games. However, with less than two months to go, International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said it will take “Armageddon” to stop the Games. Japan would lose £11.3 billion if the Olympics were cancelled, according to local economists. Yet Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute, says that would pale in comparison to the economic hit from emergency curbs if the Summer Games turned into a super-spreader event. With local opposition higher than ever after a week in which America warned against travel to Japan, Asahi called for cancellation in an editorial, citing risks to public safety and strains on the medical system. Poll after poll has shown the majority of the public is opposed to tens of thousands…
