One of Japan’s largest newspapers, which also happens to be a sponsor of the Tokyo Olympics, has now added its voice to calls of opposition for holding the summer games this year.

The Asahi Shimbun newspaper, which is listed as an official partner of the games on the Tokyo 2020 website, published an editorial Wednesday imploring Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to call off the event, which is set to kick off in July.

The editorial states:”It is simply beyond reason to hold the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer.

“We demand that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga evaluate the situation calmly and objectively, and decide against holding the Olympics and Paralympics this summer.”

The newspaper urges that peoples’ lives and health must come first, noting that Japan’s COVID-19 vaccines remain only available to seniors, and it is unlikely herd immunity will be reached anytime soon.

It also noted that the pandemic has disrupted many athletes’ trainings and even prevented some from competing in qualifiers. 

Moreover, it noted the “huge gap” that exists between countries where progress has been made in mass inoculations and those where it hasn’t, saying this divide is “obviously affecting athletes’ training and performances.”

source:- completesports

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