"It's impossible" - Japanese concerned over prospects of hosting Games

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Updated

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITE FROM JAPANESE PEOPLE ABOUT FEELINGS TOWARDS OLYMPICS AFTER TOKYO DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY TO CONTROL COVID-19, TOKYO STREET VIEW, FILE FOOTAGE OF NATIONAL STADIUM

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS:

TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - MARCH 1, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. OLYMPIC RINGS OUTSIDE NATIONAL STADIUM WHICH WILL HOLD OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES OF THE GAMES

TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 8, 2021) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. VARIOUS OF LANDMARK TOKYO TOWER

3. TAXI DRIVER GETTING ON CAR

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 74-YEAR-OLD CONSULTING FIRM OWNER, HISASHI MIYABE, SAYING:

"Considering the current (coronavirus) situation, I think it is more likely that we won't hold the Olympics, and I would rather (the government) to make the decision at some point to cancel it."

5. TRAFFIC ON ROAD

6. PEDESTRIANS WALKING ON OVERPASS BRIDGE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) EMPLOYEE WORKING FOR PUBLISHING COMPANY WHO IS IN HER 50S, YUKO KUBOTA, SAYING:

"Personally I think it's a bit hard (to hold the Olympics). It seems the government is trying to hold it, but the coronavirus infections haven't been contained and the situation around the world is getting worse. So even if Japan manage to get the infection numbers down, people from the world still can't come. Also I think it's better not to hold it when the infection is spreading during this difficult time."

8. TOKYO SKYLINE AND TRAFFIC

9. VEHICLES ON ROAD

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 23-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO MAJORED IN MARINE BIOLOGY, YUKI FURUSHO, SAYING:

"I think maybe it's better to delay (the Olympics) or cancel it."

REPORTER ASKING: "Why?"

"I think the interaction between people will cause further spread of the coronavirus, and also it is more likely that the virus may mutate if the infection numbers are increasing. I feel that's a bit scary."

11. WOMAN WITH FACE MASK LOOKING ON

12. PEOPLE CROSSING STREET

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 75-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT FROM SAITAMA PREFECTURE, TATSUHIKO AKAMASU, SAYING:

"I think it's difficult. It's impossible (to hold the Olympics)."

REPORTER ASKING: "Why?"

"Because the coronavirus is spreading. The (Olympic) torch relay will start at the end of March. (We might be able to do something) if we are not going to do the relay. It's only two and a half months (until the relay). I don't think we can get the virus under control during this period. So I think it is really hard (to hold the Olympics)."

14. PEOPLE WALKING ON ROAD

15. BACKVIEW OF KIDS WALKING

TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - MARCH 1, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

16. EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL STADIUM

TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - DECEMBER 15, 2019) (FOREIGN POOL - ACCESS ALL)

17. INTERIOR OF NATIONAL STADIUM

18. VARIOUS OF EMPTY SEATS

STORY: As Tokyo entered its second state of emergency on Friday (January 8), less than 200 days before the start of the postponed Olympics, many believe it will be difficult, perhaps impossible, to host the Games safely.

The Japanese government and International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided in March to postpone the Olympics by a year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The global sports showpiece is now slated to take place from July 23 to August 8. However, a December poll by public broadcaster NHK showed that a third of Japanese residents want the Games to be scrapped amid fears that an influx of foreign arrivals may cause a further spike in COVID-19 cases.

"It's only two and a half months until the torch relay. I don't think we can get the virus under control during this period," said 75-year-old Tatsuhiko Akamasu, who was visiting Tokyo on Friday from nearby Saitama.

The 121-day torch relay will begin in Fukushima on March 25. Fears over whether the Games can be held in Tokyo have increased in the last few weeks as COVID-19 cases surge in Japan and around the world.

(Production: Irene Wang, Jack Tarrant)