15th December, 2020
About 63 percent of Japanese want the Tokyo Olympics to be scrapped or delayed amid fears that an influx of foreign arrivals may cause a further spike in COVID-19 cases.
This is the opinion of Japanese, according to a poll released Tuesday by public broadcaster NHK.
The Japanese government and International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided in March to postpone the 2020 Olympics by a year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, with the global showpiece now slated to take place from July 23-Aug. 8.
But as Japan grapples with a third wave of infections, the NHK poll, conducted from Dec. 11-13, showed 32 per cent of respondents wanted the Summer Games to be cancelled entirely.
Another 31 per cent favoured a delay.
Only 27 per cent said the games should go ahead as scheduled.
According to an NHK poll in October, 40 per cent said the Olympics should be held as planned with only 23 per cent favouring cancellation and 25 per cent preferring further postponement.
While Japan has avoided the vast number of infections and deaths seen in many other countries across the world, a recent resurgence in cases has forced the government to re-introduce steps such as requesting bars and restaurants to close early.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday suspended a much-criticised travel subsidy programme to help contain mounting case numbers as his approval rating plummets over his handling of the pandemic. (Reuters/NAN)
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