Tokyo’s Olympic Joy Meets a Pandemic Glitch
Millions tuned in for the opening ceremony, cheering for their Olympic heroes. Yet the Covid‑19 shadow keeps Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga from pushing his poll numbers to the next plateau before this year’s election.
Election Outlook – Suga’s Support Slides
- Gauged by a July 23‑25 Nikkei survey, Suga’s backing dropped nine points to 34 %, the lowest figure since his September swearing‑in.
- Two‑thirds of voters say Japan’s vaccine rollout is a “slow‑poke” with supply hiccups, leaving under a quarter fully jabbed.
- His ideal: shut down Covid, host a smooth Games, then call a general election. A rising infection wave sparked a fourth emergency in Tokyo and forced organisers to shut out most spectators.
Win‑Streak Highlights
- Six gold medals landed Japan’s table—two historic judo golds for Uta Abe and her brother Hifumi.
- Silver and bronze fell into Japan’s lap, boosting national pride.
- Yuto Horigome claimed men’s street skateboarding gold—the first Olympic gold ever in that sport.
- 13‑year‑old Momiji Nishiya also bagged gold in women’s street skateboarding.
Broadcast & Weather Watch
Casino of the day: CEO Yiannis Exarchos logged 70 million viewers watching the ceremony—Japan’s most‑watched event in a decade.
Advisory alert: Tropical storm Nepartak was drifting toward Japan’s east coast, expected to skirt north of Tokyo. No plans yet to shift the Games.
Reactive move: Rowing races from Tuesday were paused and pushed later; early Monday events were moved to Sunday as the storm passed.
Worries about contagion
Olympic Fever Meets Covid‑Creep: Japan’s Mixed Feelings
When the world tunes in to watch athletes sprint, cycle, and bat, a different kind of sprint has been happening in Tokyo – a race against a pandemic. According to a recent survey by the Nikkei, 31 % of Japanese respondents feel the Games should be scrubbed from the calendar. The main culprit? A spike in infections linked to athletes and officials.
Border Steps Under Fire
- 56 % of voters slammed Japan’s border measures as “inappropriate.”
- Despite strict quarantine rules, 16 new COVID‑19 cases (including three athletes) have been confirmed this week, pushing the total since July 1 to 148.
- The Dutch rowing entourage chose to stay apart from the crowd after a club member, a coach, and team staff tested positive.
Rulebook: The “Playbook” for Low‑Risk Play
The Olympic playbook is a hard‑to‑beat combo of:
- Frequent testing.
- Restricted movements.
- Mandatory mask‑wearing (except for a 30‑second photo ops on the podium).
Even the International Olympic Committee has relaxed a few rules—the “mask‑break” is now allowed on the podium to give athletes that snapped‑together selfie moment.
Fans vs. Officials: The Odaiba Show‑down
While the government encouraged watching the Games on TV, a beach of eager fans gathered on the open‑air triathlon course in Odaiba – blowing the silence on the Olympic staff’s “no‑gathering” signs.
Political Gripes & Suga’s Slide
President Fumio Suga is concerned that the public’s love for athletes will not lift his popularity. Analysts say:
- Adoration for athletes probably won’t translate into higher ratings for Suga.
- His support has nosedived to just 5 % in the Nikkei’s preferred next‑prime‑minister poll.
While Taro Kono — the vaccine rollout chief — leads the list at 19 % (matching former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba), Suga’s potential reign ends in September before Japan’s most powerful lower‑house election in November.
In Short
Japan’s Olympic saga is a wild mix of high‑energy sports, stringent health protocols, and political uncertainty. Will the Games succeed in keeping everyone safe? Or will they be a painful reminder that even the best plans can get bumpy? Only time will tell.
