BEVERLY HILLS, June 02, (THEWILL) – The disturbing coronavirus infection rates in Japan ahead of the imminent commencement of the Tokyo Olympics has been the centre of calls to outrightly cancel or postpone the Games of the XXXLL Olympiad for a second time. However, as the debates continue, organisers are determined to stick to the schedule.
As a result of the changing circumstances, a Tokyo park that was set to host a public viewing event for the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, but which is no longer viable due to COVID-19 restrictions, is now being repurposed to be used as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site.
Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo made this public on Tuesday while revealing that metropolitan government officials have decided to cancel public viewing of the Olympics at the Yoyogi Park and use the space for COVID vaccine adminstration.
Koike said it was the government’s plan to fast-track the slow rollout of the vaccination process in Japan by making better use of the Park. “We’re planning to convert the Yoyogi live event site into a vaccination venue,” and added that the government planned to administer the second vaccine shots from July and beyond at the same Park.
The Governor used the opportunity of her policy speech at a regular session of the metropolitan assembly to announce the Yoyogi Park vaccination plan. This comes as part of the metropolitan government plans to begin mass coronavirus vaccinations from June 8 at a venue established on the site where the Tsukiji wholesale food market used to stand before the viewing place was built.
Now, instead of that, the venue will be used to inoculate 60,000 members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Fire Department, before being temporarily employed as a base for transportation vehicles during the Tokyo Games, in another form of repurposing before the Games begin.
The Summer Games of the Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to kick off on July 23 but have come under severe opposition from critics who have questioned officials’ unwavering approach to holding the games after they were postponed for one year especially under the prevailing conditions in Japan.
Several public opinion polls reveal that the majority of the public remains decidedly opposed to holding the games this summer especially while concerns linger about a fourth wave of the virus and over the tens of thousands of athletes and officials that would descend on a country where vaccinations have proceeded slowly and more infectious variants of the virus can cross into Japan.
In Koike’s remarks, the Tokyo Governor demonstrated that she understood the apprehension and said: “We know some people are concerned about holding (the sporting event) based mainly on the current infection situation.
“We’ll enhance the effectiveness of measures against infections and make full efforts to ensure safe and secure games.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
