Recent surveys suggest up to 80 per cent of Japanese people do NOT want the Games to go ahead now.
A petition to cancel the so-called ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ has attracted more than 450,000 signatures.
Tokyo, and several other Japanese cities, are once again under a state of emergency, as the country grapples with soaring numbers of COVID-19 infections.
For the first time in history, spectators are banned, leaving Olympic venues empty.
Organisers have confirmed several COVID cases in the Olympic Village already, fuelling fresh fears for the safety of the Games.
Teams will be kept in tightly-controlled bubbles, their movement limited both inside and outside Olympic venues;
Mask-wearing is mandatory except when competing;
COVID tests will be carried out daily;
... and of course there’s social distancing – no hugs, handshakes or high-fives.
But with Japan’s low vaccination rates, these measures may not be enough to prevent a 'pandemic detonator' as some critics are calling it.
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