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Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

straitstimes.com

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Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#101

Post by spuz »

cm2012 wrote: post #14
spuz wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is your source for this?

Generally when people tell anecdotal stories/things they remember, there's no source. It's kind of silly to ask him for something like hand washing statistics for Japan vs the world, that's clearly not what he's providing.

Sorry I guess my question wasn't clear. I meant to ask, what is the source that those hygiene practices he mentioned are factors in the lower rates of spread of the virus given that other countries such as Italy and Spain have enacted stricter measures and yet show higher rates of spread? I am not asking for sources to show the difference in cultural practices.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#102

Post by Razengan »

spuz wrote: post #101
cm2012 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally when people tell anecdotal stories/things they remember, there's no source. It's kind of silly to ask him for something like hand washing statistics for Japan vs the world, that's clearly not what he's providing.

Sorry I guess my question wasn't clear. I meant to ask, what is the source that those hygiene practices he mentioned are factors in the lower rates of spread of the virus given that other countries such as Italy and Spain have enacted stricter measures and yet show higher rates of spread? I am not asking for sources to show the difference in cultural practices.

I have no source for that, and it was a guess/suggestion for your original question, that maybe because preventive measures were already in place in the culture, they may have slowed the spread before proactive measures were taken.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#103

Post by jakeinspace »

Hamuko wrote: post #78
jakeinspace wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that Japan didn't do the best job, although definitely better than the US. Taiwan probably has had the best Coronavirus response.

Doesn't Japan have a much higher case fatality rate than the US?

They also have a much older population. Maybe saying that they had a "much better" response than the US is too generous, certainly compared to their neighbors of similar means, Japan has been incredibly slow to act and test.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#104

Post by dreamlayers »

nottorp wrote: post #98
mhh__ wrote: post #21

Had to happen: If they tried to have it, there would have been no crowd and all the athletes would get it like wildfire (The Olympic Village has a lot of Tinder activity, at least). That doesn't even account for the sad reality that some athletes can't go due to the virus (already). At least three of the South Korean Fencing team (Very likely medal contenders) are confirmed positive, for example.

Call it greed. They should have canceled a month ago. Same for any other sporting events.

Others cancelled what was supposed to be happening now. The Olympics were still in the future. It seemed reasonable to wait until there is sufficient evidence that things won't be back to normal by then.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#105

Post by jedberg »

nottorp wrote: post #98
mhh__ wrote: post #21

Had to happen: If they tried to have it, there would have been no crowd and all the athletes would get it like wildfire (The Olympic Village has a lot of Tinder activity, at least). That doesn't even account for the sad reality that some athletes can't go due to the virus (already). At least three of the South Korean Fencing team (Very likely medal contenders) are confirmed positive, for example.

Call it greed. They should have canceled a month ago. Same for any other sporting events.

They were playing chicken with insurance. Whichever side cancelled would have not get insurance coverage for their costs.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#106

Post by triceratops »

trianglem wrote: post #95
magduf wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my opinion, it's rational (which surprises me that it would be "populist" since populist thinking is rarely rational). The Olympics really are a terrible waste of effort and resources for the host nation, and the host nation rarely, if ever, gets a positive return on it. Mostly, it seems only to serve to increase the prestige of some head-of-state, nothing more. In reality, it costs an enormous amount of money to…

The final goal of ever endeavor is not always profits.

Yet funnily the IOC, broadcasters, various contractors who build the stadiums, the travel and hotel industry...all seem to profit.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#107

Post by khazhoux »

taiwanboy wrote: post #53
claudiawerner wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>We need to let Japan know that this is not their fault. It's ingrained in Japanese culture that they often put too much pressure on themselves. I can't help but think this is such a bizarre take. "Japan" and the Japanese people aren't children. We don't need to reassure "them" of anything, as if their culture collectively precludes them of realizing that the Coronavirus isn't "their fault". As if they're too naive a…

I think there is nothing wrong with calling the virus ‘Chinese virus’ when a.) the virus came from China. b.) the Chinese government proactively hid the details of the coronavirus to the world until it couldn’t anymore (since it started infecting other countries https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/17/china-car... c.) actively trying to pin the origin of the virus on other countries like Italy https://www.…

When the entire world is saying Coronavirus and Donald Trump is the single person trying to make Chinese Virus "a thing", you know there's something wrong with it.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#108

Post by SilasX »

mhh__ wrote: post #21

Had to happen: If they tried to have it, there would have been no crowd and all the athletes would get it like wildfire (The Olympic Village has a lot of Tinder activity, at least). That doesn't even account for the sad reality that some athletes can't go due to the virus (already). At least three of the South Korean Fencing team (Very likely medal contenders) are confirmed positive, for example.

Stupid question: Couldn't they still have held it, but athletes/coaches/refs only, no spectators present, and no competitions involving physical contact?

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#109

Post by bruxis »

SilasX wrote: post #108
mhh__ wrote: post #21

Had to happen: If they tried to have it, there would have been no crowd and all the athletes would get it like wildfire (The Olympic Village has a lot of Tinder activity, at least). That doesn't even account for the sad reality that some athletes can't go due to the virus (already). At least three of the South Korean Fencing team (Very likely medal contenders) are confirmed positive, for example.

Stupid question: Couldn't they still have held it, but athletes/coaches/refs only, no spectators present, and no competitions involving physical contact?

One of the major reasons for hosting the Olympics is tourism, so without an audience, it's just a very expensive show to put on.

Re: Abe, IOC agree to delay Tokyo Olympics by one year

#110

Post by bdamm »

SilasX wrote: post #108
mhh__ wrote: post #21

Had to happen: If they tried to have it, there would have been no crowd and all the athletes would get it like wildfire (The Olympic Village has a lot of Tinder activity, at least). That doesn't even account for the sad reality that some athletes can't go due to the virus (already). At least three of the South Korean Fencing team (Very likely medal contenders) are confirmed positive, for example.

Stupid question: Couldn't they still have held it, but athletes/coaches/refs only, no spectators present, and no competitions involving physical contact?

No: Athletes can't effectively train right now, and the coaches/refs/athletes would all spread the virus among themselves. Japan may or may not be able to deal with that, but who wants to go traveling abroad in the aftermath of a major global pandemic? Athletes also have family, grandparents etc that may be experiencing the virus themselves or the cause of a funeral. How psyched would those athletes be to participate in the games when their granny is being buried back home? Would you enjoy watching half-hearted competition among athletes not at the top of their game?

The fact it took this long to cancel in the face of an obvious global situation is a bit shameful.

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