Japan Press Weekly

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2021 May 26 - June 1 TOP3 [POLITICS]

JCP urges gov’t to protest against IOC vice president’s remark ignoring COVID-19 health emergency

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Hatano Kimie on May 26 at a Lower House committee meeting urged the Suga government to lodge a protest against a remark made by IOC Vice President John Coats, who chairs the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games coordinating committee, that the Tokyo Games will be held even under a state of emergency.

This remark came out on May 21 at a press conference after a coordinating committee meeting.

At the House of Representatives education committee meeting, JCP Hatano said, “Does the government agree with the IOC vice president? If not, why doesn’t it voice an objection to his remark?”

In response, Olympic Minister Marukawa Tamayo only said that the Japanese government position is to give the utmost priority to people’s safety, and expressed her intent to convey this stance in meetings with the IOC.

Hatano cited that nine hospitals in Tokyo and 20 hospitals outside Tokyo are on the organizing committee’s list of designated medical facilities tasked to have beds available for injured/sick Olympic athletes during the Games. Regarding the 29 facilities, the JCP lawmaker asked the government how many of them are accepting COVID-19 patients at present. The Olympic minister failed to provide a clear response.

Hatano said that the information she sought was necessary in discussing possible impacts of the Tokyo Games on local healthcare systems. She said, “It is unacceptable to hold the Summer Games without providing the necessary information. The organizing committee and the government should become more willing to disclose everything people need to know.”