Slightly more than half of Tokyo’s residents don’t believe that the postponed 2020 Olympics should take place next year, which, according to a poll released on Monday, suggests either further delays or a total cancellation based on concerns about the corona virus.
The survey, conducted by two Japanese news organizations, is just a single data point, but comes after health experts have warned that even a one-year delay may not be enough to keep the games safe.
The survey conducted over the weekend showed that 51.7 percent of those surveyed hope that the games will be postponed or canceled again in 2021, while 46.3 percent would like the planned Olympic Games to be postponed.
Among opponents of 2021 games, 27.7 percent said they should be canceled altogether, while 24.0 percent would prefer a second move.
The phone survey conducted by Kyodo News and Tokyo MX Television from June 26-28 received 1,030 responses.
Of those who said they want to watch the games next year, 31.1 percent said the event should be in a reduced form, even without spectators, while 15.2 percent said they wanted to see a full-blown Olympiad .
Tokyo 2020 was postponed in March as the corona virus spread around the world and caused the worst disruptions in the Olympic Games since two editions were canceled during World War II.
The games are now slated to begin on July 23, 2021, although they will continue to be known as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Officials from Japan and the International Olympic Committee have warned that another move will not be possible, and even the year-long delay has caused significant financial and logistical problems.
The poll, which took place before the Tokyo election on July 5, also found that incumbent Yuriko Koike led her opponents “by far”.
Your precise note was not given, which corresponds to the media tradition not to publish survey numbers in the days before a vote.
Koike was heavily involved in the preparations for the games and traveled to Rio for the handover after the last Summer Olympics.
Earlier this month, she told AFP that the rescheduled Olympics would be safe despite the coronavirus pandemic and promised a “120 percent effort” to ensure that the first postponed games could take place.
.
