Go Tokyo Your Experience
The ongoing Paris Olympics have faced numerous logistical challenges, including venues lacking air conditioning, insufficient meat in athlete meals, absence of curtains in female athletes’ rooms, and even thefts such as a stolen wedding ring. These issues have led to widespread criticism from international athletes and delegations.
Contrasting Reactions to Tokyo Olympics
Despite the problems, the positive memories of the Tokyo Olympics remain fresh among many Japanese netizens. However, when Christophe Dubi, the Executive Director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), expressed a desire during a media roundtable hosted by the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) for Japan to host the Olympics again, the reaction among Japanese netizens was notably tepid, with comments like “Don’t come here!”
Dubi’s Acknowledgment of Challenges
Dubi acknowledged that the Tokyo Olympics, held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic along with subsequent scandals involving corruption and bid rigging, did erode some support for the Olympics in Japan.
Nevertheless, he noted that the Paris Olympics still attracted a significant Japanese viewership, suggesting that Japan could potentially host the Games again in the future.
Netizens‘ Skepticism
Despite the IOC’s hopes, many Japanese netizens expressed clear opposition to hosting another Olympics. Common sentiments included outright refusal, a preference for watching the Games remotely, and concerns about Japan being used as a “cash cow” for the IOC rather than a genuine host. Some even suggested that the Olympics should return to its origins and be permanently held in Athens, Greece, to avoid these recurring host-city issues.
Moreover, the negative fallout from the Tokyo Olympic scandals led Sapporo, originally a candidate city for the 2030 Winter Olympics, to withdraw its bid in December last year, reflecting a broader hesitancy towards future Olympic hosting duties in Japan.
This general reluctance from the Japanese public underscores a growing debate over the benefits and burdens of hosting the Olympics, particularly in light of recent organizational challenges and the long-term impacts on host cities.