Tokyo residents on Thursday (July 23) skeptically looked forward to another year-long wait for the Olympics after this year's scheduled Games were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tokyo residents skeptically look forward to another year-long wait for Olympics

The development of a coronavirus vaccine or treatment will be key to allowing the postponed Tokyo 2020 games to open in a year's time, organising committee president Yoshiro Mori said Wednesday.

Asked what factors will be crucial for the rescheduled Games to go ahead, Mori said "it would be whether the coronavirus woe is settling down."

"Specifically, the first point will be that a vaccine or drug has been developed," he said in an interview with national broadcaster NHK, published Wednesday.

Asked whether Tokyo could hold the Games if the virus situation remained unchanged, Mori said: "If things continue as they are now, we couldn't."

But he said that scenario was hypothetical. "I can't imagine a situation like this will continue for another year," he said

Tokyo 2020 should have been opening on Friday, but the Games were postponed in March as the coronavirus spread across the globe, marking&nbsp;the worst disruption to an Olympics since two editions were cancelled during World War II.

The Games are now set to open on July 23, 2021, but recent polls have shown less public enthusiasm for hosting the event, as virus cases show a resurgence in Japan.

Just one in four people in Japan want to see the delayed Tokyo Games held next year, with most backing either further delay or a cancellation, according to a survey published by Kyodo News this week.

Most of those backing a delay or cancellation said they simply didn't believe the pandemic could be contained in time for the Games.

Among the options that have been floated for a Games held during a pandemic is the possibility of limited spectators, or holding the event behind closed doors.

But Mori said reducing the number of spectators would be tough.

And he said holding the event without any fans was not an option for now.

"If it's the only way to do it, then it's something we'd have to consider. If that happens, there might be talk of cancellation," he was quoted as saying, without elaborating.

With just over a year to go until the rescheduled Games, there are persistent doubts about whether the delay will be sufficient for the pandemic to be brought under control.

Japan has so far reported 26,300 COVID-19 cases with 989 deaths, but Tokyo has seen an increase in cases recently and the country's borders remain almost completely sealed to overseas visitors.

The development of a coronavirus vaccine or treatment will be key to allowing the postponed Tokyo 2020 games to open in a year's time, organising committee president Yoshiro Mori said Wednesday.

The development of a coronavirus vaccine or treatment will be key to allowing the postponed Tokyo 2020 games to open in a year's time, organising committee president Yoshiro Mori said Wednesday. Asked what factors will be crucial for the rescheduled Games to go ahead, Mori said "it would be whether the coronavirus woe is settling down." "Specifically, the first point will be that a vaccine or drug has been developed," he said in an interview with national broadcaster NHK, published Wednesday. Asked whether Tokyo could hold the Games if the virus situation remained unchanged, Mori said: "If things continue as they are now, we couldn't." But he said that scenario was hypothetical. "I can't imagine a situation like this will continue for another year," he said Tokyo 2020 should have been opening on Friday, but the Games were postponed in March as the coronavirus spread across the globe, marking the worst disruption to an Olympics since two editions were cancelled during World War II. The Games are now set to open on July 23, 2021, but recent polls have shown less public enthusiasm for hosting the event, as virus cases show a resurgence in Japan. Just one in four people in Japan want to see the delayed Tokyo Games held next year, with most backing either further delay or a cancellation, according to a survey published by Kyodo News this week. Most of those backing a delay or cancellation said they simply didn't believe the pandemic could be contained in time for the Games. Among the options that have been floated for a Games held during a pandemic is the possibility of limited spectators, or holding the event behind closed doors. But Mori said reducing the number of spectators would be tough. And he said holding the event without any fans was not an option for now. "If it's the only way to do it, then it's something we'd have to consider. If that happens, there might be talk of cancellation," he was quoted as saying, without elaborating. With just over a year to go until the rescheduled Games, there are persistent doubts about whether the delay will be sufficient for the pandemic to be brought under control. Japan has so far reported 26,300 COVID-19 cases with 989 deaths, but Tokyo has seen an increase in cases recently and the country's borders remain almost completely sealed to overseas visitors.

Virus vaccine key for Olympics go-ahead in 2021: Tokyo chief

Banning fans from the Tokyo Olympics is "clearly something we don't want", International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said, adding that "multiple scenarios" were under consideration for the rescheduled Games.

Bach said safety was the top concern for organisers of the Tokyo Olympics, which were due to start next week but have been postponed for a year over the COVID-19 pandemic.

But he clearly signalled his reluctance to hold the Games at empty stadiums, now a common sight in sport as other competitions make a tentative return from virus-enforced shutdowns.

"Olympic Games behind closed doors is clearly something we do not want," the IOC president told reporters in a video call.

"So we are working for a solution of the Olympic Games which, on one hand, is safeguarding the health of all the participants and, on the other hand, is also reflecting the Olympic spirit."

Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have both warned that it would be hard to postpone the Games beyond 2021, raising the nightmare scenario of the first Olympics to be cancelled in peace time.

"The first priority is about the safety of all participants of the Olympic Games," said Bach.

"For this reason, we are working now on multiple scenarios of the organisation of the Games with regard to the health situation of which we do not know how it will be in one year from now."

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike last month told AFP she would make a "120 percent effort" for the Games to go ahead, pledging the Olympics would be safe despite the pandemic.

On Wednesday Tokyo moved its coronavirus alert to red, the highest level, after a resurgence of cases in Japan's capital.

Banning fans from the Tokyo Olympics is "clearly something we don't want", International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said, adding that "multiple scenarios" were under consideration for the rescheduled Games.

Banning fans from the Tokyo Olympics is "clearly something we don't want", International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said, adding that "multiple scenarios" were under consideration for the rescheduled Games. Bach said safety was the top concern for organisers of the Tokyo Olympics, which were due to start next week but have been postponed for a year over the COVID-19 pandemic. But he clearly signalled his reluctance to hold the Games at empty stadiums, now a common sight in sport as other competitions make a tentative return from virus-enforced shutdowns. "Olympic Games behind closed doors is clearly something we do not want," the IOC president told reporters in a video call. "So we are working for a solution of the Olympic Games which, on one hand, is safeguarding the health of all the participants and, on the other hand, is also reflecting the Olympic spirit." Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have both warned that it would be hard to postpone the Games beyond 2021, raising the nightmare scenario of the first Olympics to be cancelled in peace time. "The first priority is about the safety of all participants of the Olympic Games," said Bach. "For this reason, we are working now on multiple scenarios of the organisation of the Games with regard to the health situation of which we do not know how it will be in one year from now." Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike last month told AFP she would make a "120 percent effort" for the Games to go ahead, pledging the Olympics would be safe despite the pandemic. On Wednesday Tokyo moved its coronavirus alert to red, the highest level, after a resurgence of cases in Japan's capital.

Olympics boss reluctant to hold Tokyo Games behind closed doors

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japan agreeing to postpone the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to not later than the summer of 2021 has&nbsp;come as a historic decision in the world of sports. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken almost the entire world under its dreaded wings and as a result, the entire sporting calendar has been left shattered. The decision to postpone the Games by a year is likely to torment Japan’s economy, which has already taken a hit due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. But how much financial hit Japan will take after postponing the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to 2021?

<h2 class="MsoNormal">How much has Japan invested?</h2>

At the end of 2019, the organisers of the Games had estimated a total cost to be around 1.35 trillion Japanese Yen ($12.6 billion). The investment is divided between Tokyo, Japanese organizing committee and the central government, who have contributed 597 billion, 603 billion and 150 billion Yen respectively.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ioc-japan-agree-to-postpone-2020-tokyo-olympics-by-one-year-to-be-held-no-later-than-summer-of-2021-288259">IOC, Japan agree to postpone 2020 Tokyo Olympics by one year, to be held 'no later than summer of 2021'</a>

However, the actual cost for Japan has, as per an audit report, stands approximately around 1.06 trillion Yen, which is 10 times the budget. This spending by the national government comes from the bid in 2013 until 2018, which makes the numbers even more staggering.&nbsp;

Furthermore, Japanese businesses have also splashed in money for sponsorship while pouring a record 348 billion Yen ($3.3 billion). Notably, the figure doesn’t include partnership deals signed between major companies and IOC for rights to sponsor several Games. Among those are giants including Japan's Toyota, Bridgestone and Panasonic.

<h2 class="MsoNormal">How the postponement will affect Japan's economy?</h2>

As per Capital Economics, Japan’s economy is likely to take a major hit because most of the spending has already happened for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, meaning the effects of outlays, constructions of new sporting venues, have already been factored into GDP in recent years.

However, the postponement of Games could majorly drag down tourism industry, which is already under pressure after a widely-debated sales tax hike in 2019 and with the COVID-19 pandemic, enforcing a lockdown in many countries, it remains to be seen how many people would want to visit Tokyo for the Olympics.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-concrete-problem-olympic-delay-spells-limbo-on-athletes-village-288379">A concrete problem: Olympic delay spells limbo on Athletes' Village</a>

The COVID-19 pandemic has already taken Japan towards recession as the GDP has contracted 1.8 per cent in the October-December quarter. 
Research firm Fitch on Monday revised its 2020 growth forecast for Japan to -1.1 per cent from -0.2 per cent as it reflected risks to consumption, tourism and exports industry being hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. It further stated the postponement of the Games might worsen the situation even more and “could impact GDP between 0.5 and 0.8 percentage point to our forecast."

<img alt="Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed to 2021" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4fba8486-75e0-4f2e-af4e-72c1280336ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PS34A.jpg" />

<h2 class="MsoNormal">What about ticket-holders?</h2>

The effect, the postponement of the Games, on spending from foreign spectators which was estimated to be 240 billion yen ($2.28 billion) is unclear as of now. Furthermore, a staggering 4.5 million tickets have already been sold in Japan with an estimated 7.8 million to be sold overall. But how the postponement will affect the already sold tickets is not clear yet.

Economists at SMBC Nikko Securities on Tuesday said that delaying the Games would reduce the impact Japan’s GDP this year by some $6 billion. However, they added, the amount would be recovered when the Games are eventually held, effectively cancelling out the losses.&nbsp; 
<o:p></o:p>

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japan agreeing to postpone the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to not later than the summer of 2021 has come as a historic decision in the world of sports.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japan agreeing to postpone the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to not later than the summer of 2021 has come as a historic decision in the world of sports. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken almost the entire world under its dreaded wings and as a result, the entire sporting calendar has been left shattered. The decision to postpone the Games by a year is likely to torment Japan’s economy, which has already taken a hit due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. But how much financial hit Japan will take after postponing the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to 2021? How much has Japan invested? At the end of 2019, the organisers of the Games had estimated a total cost to be around 1.35 trillion Japanese Yen ($12.6 billion). The investment is divided between Tokyo, Japanese organizing committee and the central government, who have contributed 597 billion, 603 billion and 150 billion Yen respectively. ALSO READ: IOC, Japan agree to postpone 2020 Tokyo Olympics by one year, to be held 'no later than summer of 2021' However, the actual cost for Japan has, as per an audit report, stands approximately around 1.06 trillion Yen, which is 10 times the budget. This spending by the national government comes from the bid in 2013 until 2018, which makes the numbers even more staggering. Furthermore, Japanese businesses have also splashed in money for sponsorship while pouring a record 348 billion Yen ($3.3 billion). Notably, the figure doesn’t include partnership deals signed between major companies and IOC for rights to sponsor several Games. Among those are giants including Japan's Toyota, Bridgestone and Panasonic. How the postponement will affect Japan's economy? As per Capital Economics, Japan’s economy is likely to take a major hit because most of the spending has already happened for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, meaning the effects of outlays, constructions of new sporting venues, have already been factored into GDP in recent years. However, the postponement of Games could majorly drag down tourism industry, which is already under pressure after a widely-debated sales tax hike in 2019 and with the COVID-19 pandemic, enforcing a lockdown in many countries, it remains to be seen how many people would want to visit Tokyo for the Olympics. ALSO READ: A concrete problem: Olympic delay spells limbo on Athletes' Village The COVID-19 pandemic has already taken Japan towards recession as the GDP has contracted 1.8 per cent in the October-December quarter. Research firm Fitch on Monday revised its 2020 growth forecast for Japan to -1.1 per cent from -0.2 per cent as it reflected risks to consumption, tourism and exports industry being hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. It further stated the postponement of the Games might worsen the situation even more and “could impact GDP between 0.5 and 0.8 percentage point to our forecast." What about ticket-holders? The effect, the postponement of the Games, on spending from foreign spectators which was estimated to be 240 billion yen ($2.28 billion) is unclear as of now. Furthermore, a staggering 4.5 million tickets have already been sold in Japan with an estimated 7.8 million to be sold overall. But how the postponement will affect the already sold tickets is not clear yet. Economists at SMBC Nikko Securities on Tuesday said that delaying the Games would reduce the impact Japan’s GDP this year by some $6 billion. However, they added, the amount would be recovered when the Games are eventually held, effectively cancelling out the losses.

COVID-19 hits Olympics: What could 2020 Tokyo Games postponement cost Japan?

South&nbsp;Korea's Olympic committee plans to buy&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;detectors&nbsp;and ship&nbsp;homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/with-eight-months-from-tokyo-2020-venue-preparations-enter-final-stretch-263688">Tokyo&nbsp;Games</a> because&nbsp;of worries local&nbsp;food&nbsp;may be contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan has posted data to show the country is safe&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fukushima&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;and many countries have lifted Fukushima-related&nbsp;food&nbsp;restrictions.

The&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;Sports &amp; Olympic Committee (KSOC) plans to ship red pepper paste, a key ingredient in&nbsp;Korean dishes, and other&nbsp;foods, and check for&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;in meat and vegetables that can only be sourced locally due to stringent quarantine rules, a KSOC meals plan report shows.

"Apparently, ingredients and&nbsp;food&nbsp;will be transported&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/873-million-fine-against-us-chip-gaint-qualcomm-south-korea-266064">South&nbsp;Korea</a>&nbsp;as much as possible, possibly including canned&nbsp;food," Shin Dong-keun, a ruling Democratic Party member of the parliamentary sports committee who was recently briefed by KSOC, told Reuters in an interview.

"For this Olympic&nbsp;games,&nbsp;food&nbsp;is our team's main focus so they can provide safe meals for the athletes to erase&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;worries, as opposed to in the past,&nbsp;food&nbsp;was meant to play the supplementary role of helping with their morale."

KSOC plans to arrange local&nbsp;Korean restaurants to prepare meals for baseball and softball players competing in Fukushima, as shipping boxed lunches&nbsp;from&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;is not feasible, it said in the "2020&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;Summer Olympics Meals Support Centre Plan".

"These&nbsp;Korean restaurants should only handle&nbsp;food&nbsp;confirmed as&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;free,"

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, located about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of&nbsp;Tokyo, was rocked by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011, sparking three reactor meltdowns.

More than 160,000 residents fled nearby towns in the aftermath as&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;from&nbsp;the reactors contaminated water,&nbsp;food&nbsp;and air.

Greenpeace said on Wednesday that&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;hot spots have been found at the J-Village sports facility in Fukushima where the&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;2020 Olympic torch relay will begin.

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has stepped up demands for a Japanese response to concerns&nbsp;food&nbsp;produced in the Fukushima area and nearby sea could be contaminated by&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;from&nbsp;the Fukushima plant.

Japan is having trouble removing more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water&nbsp;from&nbsp;the crippled plant.

When it finalises menus around April, the KSOC will consider asking&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;to ease its stringent quarantine ban on&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean produce, an official at the committee said.

The official said&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;was preparing a separate meals plan due to concerns&nbsp;from&nbsp;the public and politicians over&nbsp;food&nbsp;safety, unlike the United States and Australia whose athletes will mainly eat&nbsp;food&nbsp;provided by the host country, Japan.

The official requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

South&nbsp;Korea's concerns about possible contamination&nbsp;from&nbsp;the nuclear disaster has become a thorn in already contentious ties with Japan.

Seoul has banned imports of seafood&nbsp;from&nbsp;Japan's Fukushima region since the nuclear disaster, prompting&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;to launch a World Trade Organisation complaint. Japan has said many nations such as the United States and Australia had lifted or eased Fukushima-related restrictions.

Japanese officials&nbsp;use&nbsp;international events to promote the recovery of areas hit by the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster to show produce&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fukushima prefecture is safe.

Mineral water&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fukushima was served on tables at the last month's G20 foreign ministers meeting it hosted in Nagoya.

The&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean Olympic committee plan to purchase&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;detecting equipment by February and station an inspector at its own cafeteria in&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;during the&nbsp;games to check contamination levels, according to the KSOC report.

The budget for the&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics meals service is earmarked at 1.7 billion won, which includes twice the amount of money for buying and shipping ingredients than previous&nbsp;games, according to the committee.

South Korea's Olympic committee plans to buy radiation detectors and ship homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes at the Tokyo Games because of worries local food may be contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

South Korea's Olympic committee plans to buy radiation detectors and ship homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes at the Tokyo Games because of worries local food may be contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan has posted data to show the country is safe from Fukushima radiation and many countries have lifted Fukushima-related food restrictions. The Korea Sports & Olympic Committee (KSOC) plans to ship red pepper paste, a key ingredient in Korean dishes, and other foods, and check for radiation in meat and vegetables that can only be sourced locally due to stringent quarantine rules, a KSOC meals plan report shows. "Apparently, ingredients and food will be transported from South Korea as much as possible, possibly including canned food," Shin Dong-keun, a ruling Democratic Party member of the parliamentary sports committee who was recently briefed by KSOC, told Reuters in an interview. "For this Olympic games, food is our team's main focus so they can provide safe meals for the athletes to erase radiation worries, as opposed to in the past, food was meant to play the supplementary role of helping with their morale." KSOC plans to arrange local Korean restaurants to prepare meals for baseball and softball players competing in Fukushima, as shipping boxed lunches from Tokyo is not feasible, it said in the "2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics Meals Support Centre Plan". "These Korean restaurants should only handle food confirmed as radiation free," The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, located about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was rocked by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011, sparking three reactor meltdowns. More than 160,000 residents fled nearby towns in the aftermath as radiation from the reactors contaminated water, food and air. Greenpeace said on Wednesday that radiation hot spots have been found at the J-Village sports facility in Fukushima where the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay will begin. South Korea has stepped up demands for a Japanese response to concerns food produced in the Fukushima area and nearby sea could be contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima plant. Japan is having trouble removing more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water from the crippled plant. When it finalises menus around April, the KSOC will consider asking Tokyo to ease its stringent quarantine ban on South Korean produce, an official at the committee said. The official said South Korea was preparing a separate meals plan due to concerns from the public and politicians over food safety, unlike the United States and Australia whose athletes will mainly eat food provided by the host country, Japan. The official requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. South Korea's concerns about possible contamination from the nuclear disaster has become a thorn in already contentious ties with Japan. Seoul has banned imports of seafood from Japan's Fukushima region since the nuclear disaster, prompting Tokyo to launch a World Trade Organisation complaint. Japan has said many nations such as the United States and Australia had lifted or eased Fukushima-related restrictions. Japanese officials use international events to promote the recovery of areas hit by the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster to show produce from Fukushima prefecture is safe. Mineral water from Fukushima was served on tables at the last month's G20 foreign ministers meeting it hosted in Nagoya. The South Korean Olympic committee plan to purchase radiation detecting equipment by February and station an inspector at its own cafeteria in Tokyo during the games to check contamination levels, according to the KSOC report. The budget for the Tokyo Olympics meals service is earmarked at 1.7 billion won, which includes twice the amount of money for buying and shipping ingredients than previous games, according to the committee.

South Korea to use radiation detectors, food from home at Tokyo Olympics 2020

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Tokyo residents skeptically look forward to another year-long wait for Olympics

Virus vaccine key for Olympics go-ahead in 2021: Tokyo chief

Olympics boss reluctant to hold Tokyo Games behind closed doors

COVID-19 hits Olympics: What could 2020 Tokyo Games postponement cost Japan?

South Korea to use radiation detectors, food from home at Tokyo Olympics 2020