Media Watch: Tokyo Doubts, Hopes

IOC Torched in Jenkins Column

Washington Post sports sage Sally Jenkins rips the IOC for insisting the Tokyo Olympics proceed.

"Where, exactly, does the IOC get off imperiously insisting that the Games must go on, when fully 72 percent of the Japanese public is reluctant or unwilling to entertain 15,000 foreign athletes and officials in the midst of a pandemic?" queries Jenkins in the open of her column.

NY Times Reports Games Might be OK

David Leonhardt analyzes the delicate situation in Tokyo, where public support for the Olympics continues to sag. But he writes in the New York Times that Japan should be able to deliver the Games amid the battle to control COVID-19.

"A Covid-free Olympics seems unlikely. The question will be whether Japan can quickly identify, isolate and treat people who get the virus.

"In this way, the Games may present a particularly intense version of the balance that many countries will be trying to achieve in 2021 — moving back to normal life while avoiding a new wave of a deadly virus," Leonhardt writes.

Olympics No Go Says San Francisco Chronicle

Ann Killion, a veteran of 11 Olympic Games, writes in her Sporting Green column that she’s convinced COVID-19 trumps the Tokyo Olympics.

Japan Provincial Leaders Surveyed

Mainichi Shinbum reporters Yoshikazu Takeuchi and Shunsuke Sekiya deliver the results of a survey of the governors of Japan’s 47 prefectures. While most of the governors think the Olympics can have a positive effect on Japan, nearly all expressed doubts about holding the Games if the risk of spreading coronavirus rises.

P&G Readies for Third Summer Games

Charles Taylor reports on the plans for Tokyo from IOC worldwide sponsor P&G in the latest issue of Forbes. Marc Pritchard, global marketing chief for the consumer goods giant says Tokyo activation will include athletes across Olympic and Paralympic sports under the theme, "Lead With Love".

"When their dreams were put on hold in 2020, we were inspired by these athletes as they moved beyond their own disappointment and stepped up to help others and serve their communities. By putting others above themselves and lending their time, talent, and resources to help those in need—these Olympic and Paralympic athletes showed us that their goodness is their greatness. ‘Lead with Love’ consumer campaign."

Reported by Ed Hula.