Tokyo officials sow further doubt in Olympic Games as COVID-19 surges

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are scheduled to go ahead from July 23, 2021. /VCG

"What we've seen is a very disturbing week," proclaimed an ashen-faced Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious diseases expert, during a livestream event on Thursday.

It was yet another grim day of shattered records across the world. The number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. climbed past 50,000 with the infection curve skyrocketing in 40 of the 50 states. The death toll in Brazil reached 61,884, registering a daily increase of 1,252.

Even Japan, which appeared to have tamed the deadly virus by adhering to strict social distancing measures and a vigorous contact tracing program, confirmed more than 100 new cases in Tokyo, its highest daily tally since the easing of restrictive measures in May.

"The rise in infections is different from the rapid pace of infections seen in late March," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga explained in a press briefing, trying to calm the resurgent worries.

Tokyo confirmed more than 100 COVID-19 cases on July 2, the highest daily tally in two months, Japan. /VCG

However, as the coronavirus crisis shows little signs of letting up, speculation about the fate of the postponed Tokyo Olympics has reignited. Will the Games go ahead as rescheduled in 2021? What if an effective vaccine rolls out next year but it doesn't meet the demands of the thousands of athletes, officials and fans?

To further muddy the waters, Endo Toshiaki, vice president of the Tokyo Games organizing committee, confirmed on Wednesday that a final decision on whether to hold the Games or not would wait until sometime between March and June next year.

Endo made similar comments in June, but this time he revealed more details after discussing the matter with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting in Tokyo, making the point that full preparations for the showpiece events could be made without hitches only if the decision to stage them is made within that period.

Vice president of the Tokyo Games organizing committee Endo Toshiaki speaks during a Tokyo 2020 event, Tokyo, Japan, November 29, 2017. /VCG

According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, Endo also handed Abe a resolution underscoring the responsibility borne by the host nation to "ensure the well-being of all those involved in the Games" and "overcome virus-induced hardships."

The cautious stance was echoed by Haruyuki Takahashi, a board member of the organizing committee, who told Nikkan Sports that there should be the option to further postpone the Olympics instead of canceling the Games entirely if the coronavirus does not slow down.

Takahashi's remarks ran counter to what International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said in May, when he told the BBC that the rescheduled Games would have to be canceled if it cannot take place in Tokyo in 2021.

"You cannot forever employ 3,000 to 5,000 people in an organizing committee," observed Bach. "You cannot every year change the entire sports schedule worldwide of all the major federations. You cannot have the athletes being in uncertainty."

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach chairs a press conference concerning the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic house, Tokyo, Japan, March 3, 2020. /VCG

The seemingly never-ending Olympics soap opera that the world watched over the past few months, has evidently taken a toll on virus-weary residents in Tokyo. A new survey conducted by Kyodo News and the Tokyo MX found that more than half of respondents (51.7 per cent) are in favor of delaying or canceling the Games next year.

The signs of weariness could even be glimpsed in business partners for the 2020 Games as another survey by NHK showed that two-thirds of corporate sponsors for Tokyo Olympics are still dithering over whether they should extend their contracts past December.

"It is unclear what the coronavirus situation will be next summer. It is still too early to discuss whether to hold the games or not," Endo repeatedly delivered the punchline during a heated debate within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Alas, this excruciating uncertainty will do nobody any good.