Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics: Fulfill Japan’s pledge to the international community
SASAKAWA Yohei / Chairman, The Nippon Foundation
June 22, 2021
On June 1, a little more than a month before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, the women’s softball team from Australia came to Japan, leading the way for foreign teams competing in the Olympics. Members of the teams, media and sponsor organizations from various countries are continuing to arrive in Japan.
Great Significance of Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics
Japan came to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, pledging to hold them in the spirit of “o-mo-te-na-shi” (generous hospitality) and in a safe and secure manner. Teams of athletes are being sent from a number of countries that have faced or are facing far more serious challenges of COVID-19 than Japan has, because they believe that Japan will hold the games in a safe and secure manner.
Opinion polls indicate that there are still persistent voices demanding the games to be cancelled or postponed again, tending to split the nation into two camps arguing for and against. However, what we need now is not to debate whether or not to hold the games but to strengthen our efforts to hold them in a safe and secure manner. That is our responsibility as the host country, and we owe it as a courtesy to the many countries that supported our hosting of the Tokyo Olympics.
At the same time, the games, to be held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, will be an important opportunity to reaffirm the solidarity of the international community in overcoming the pandemic. As such, these games will have a unique, unprecedented place in the history of the Olympics.
Due to COVID-19, spectators from overseas will not be received, and the games will be less colorful and more compact in appearance than had been envisioned at the time when Tokyo was selected as the venue at the International Olympic Committee in 2013. However, the Olympics and Paralympics this time will have far greater significance and implications than those held under normal circumstances.
Opportunity to Reaffirm the Need for Solidarity
Last March, I made an appeal in this column (Seiron, Sankei Shimbun) entitled “Surmount all difficulties to host the Olympics and Paralympics”. I wrote that these games, which will attract countries from all over the world and will be the focus of world attention, would be the most appropriate opportunity for the international community to reaffirm the need for mutual cooperation and solidarity in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, I argued, we should surmount all difficulties to make this a reality.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading all over the world, to an extent second only to the Spanish Flu in 1918-1920 that afflicted 500 million people all over the world with more than 50 million fatalities. It is producing one new variant after another. It would thus be extremely difficult, even if the infection is brought under control in one country, to prevent further infection in today’s world characterized by active and incessant movements of people.
It is only through the advance of international cooperation such as close exchanges of information and joint development and dissemination of vaccines among countries that we will begin to see the possibility of overcoming COVID-19.
On June 2, the Japanese government cohosted the virtual summit on coronavirus vaccines with Gavi, the international vaccine alliance. There, to about 40 participating countries, Japan explained its continuous support to the vaccine alliance through its financial contribution amounting to US$ 200 million and announced its additional contribution of US$ 800 million. In my understanding, this was designed not just to help the developing countries but also to accelerate international solidarity in these efforts.
Naturally it is up to other specialized agencies to work out the concrete steps. The role of the Olympics is to help foster the momentum for these efforts. I do hope that the Japanese government and the organizers of the Olympics and Paralympics step up their efforts to this end as we approach the opening of the games.
COVID-19 has already infected 170 million people in the world and claimed more than 3.7 million lives. This long battle with the pandemic is taking its toll on people’s lives and economies to the point of extreme exhaustion. The conditions surrounding people with disabilities and women are rapidly worsening. It would be difficult to overcome COVID-19 without the international community joining forces. International solidarity is called for more than ever as we tackle the wave of My Country Alone-ism and exclusionism rapidly spreading around the world.
15,000 athletes and 78,000 members of the media and sponsor organizations are expected to come to Japan to take part in the games. They are being required to have their vaccination completed before coming to Japan and to undergo PCR tests and strictly abide by the restrictions on “going out” while in Japan. The measures to be put in place to prevent the spread of infection during the games can provide useful reference as each country contemplates the strengthening of its own measures. It is also suggested that global warming may give rise to the possibility of some hitherto unknown virus triggering a pandemic. The Olympics and Paralympics provide an opportunity to reaffirm the need to be ready for such contingencies.
It is vital that government and private sectors join forces to successfully hold the Olympics and Paralympics, as a proof that the international community is working in solidarity to overcome the pandemic. If we succeed, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will have a special place in the history of Olympics in multiple senses.
Capacity of Sports to Invigorate Human Beings and Society
Sports have an immeasurable capacity to invigorate human beings and society. The Olympic torch relay, which started last March in Fukushima, is proceeding as planned. Even though we may not be able to cheer them directly on site, we can draw inspiration and courage from the way the athletes will tackle their challenges with passion and determination. We also wish to laud the athletes who have withstood rigorous trainings under the trying circumstances of COVID-19.
I do hope that we can send as many uplifting messages of hope as possible though the Olympics and Paralympics, so that we can encourage the people around the world who are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. After all, there can be no Japan without the world.
As we share the appreciation of the significance of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics with people in many countries of the world, we can make Japan’s presence felt more widely in the international community.
Yohei Sasakawa is Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. This article was published in the June 10, 2021 edition of Sankei Shimbun.
Great Significance of Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics
Japan came to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, pledging to hold them in the spirit of “o-mo-te-na-shi” (generous hospitality) and in a safe and secure manner. Teams of athletes are being sent from a number of countries that have faced or are facing far more serious challenges of COVID-19 than Japan has, because they believe that Japan will hold the games in a safe and secure manner.
Opinion polls indicate that there are still persistent voices demanding the games to be cancelled or postponed again, tending to split the nation into two camps arguing for and against. However, what we need now is not to debate whether or not to hold the games but to strengthen our efforts to hold them in a safe and secure manner. That is our responsibility as the host country, and we owe it as a courtesy to the many countries that supported our hosting of the Tokyo Olympics.
At the same time, the games, to be held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, will be an important opportunity to reaffirm the solidarity of the international community in overcoming the pandemic. As such, these games will have a unique, unprecedented place in the history of the Olympics.
Due to COVID-19, spectators from overseas will not be received, and the games will be less colorful and more compact in appearance than had been envisioned at the time when Tokyo was selected as the venue at the International Olympic Committee in 2013. However, the Olympics and Paralympics this time will have far greater significance and implications than those held under normal circumstances.
Opportunity to Reaffirm the Need for Solidarity
Last March, I made an appeal in this column (Seiron, Sankei Shimbun) entitled “Surmount all difficulties to host the Olympics and Paralympics”. I wrote that these games, which will attract countries from all over the world and will be the focus of world attention, would be the most appropriate opportunity for the international community to reaffirm the need for mutual cooperation and solidarity in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, I argued, we should surmount all difficulties to make this a reality.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading all over the world, to an extent second only to the Spanish Flu in 1918-1920 that afflicted 500 million people all over the world with more than 50 million fatalities. It is producing one new variant after another. It would thus be extremely difficult, even if the infection is brought under control in one country, to prevent further infection in today’s world characterized by active and incessant movements of people.
It is only through the advance of international cooperation such as close exchanges of information and joint development and dissemination of vaccines among countries that we will begin to see the possibility of overcoming COVID-19.
On June 2, the Japanese government cohosted the virtual summit on coronavirus vaccines with Gavi, the international vaccine alliance. There, to about 40 participating countries, Japan explained its continuous support to the vaccine alliance through its financial contribution amounting to US$ 200 million and announced its additional contribution of US$ 800 million. In my understanding, this was designed not just to help the developing countries but also to accelerate international solidarity in these efforts.
Naturally it is up to other specialized agencies to work out the concrete steps. The role of the Olympics is to help foster the momentum for these efforts. I do hope that the Japanese government and the organizers of the Olympics and Paralympics step up their efforts to this end as we approach the opening of the games.
COVID-19 has already infected 170 million people in the world and claimed more than 3.7 million lives. This long battle with the pandemic is taking its toll on people’s lives and economies to the point of extreme exhaustion. The conditions surrounding people with disabilities and women are rapidly worsening. It would be difficult to overcome COVID-19 without the international community joining forces. International solidarity is called for more than ever as we tackle the wave of My Country Alone-ism and exclusionism rapidly spreading around the world.
15,000 athletes and 78,000 members of the media and sponsor organizations are expected to come to Japan to take part in the games. They are being required to have their vaccination completed before coming to Japan and to undergo PCR tests and strictly abide by the restrictions on “going out” while in Japan. The measures to be put in place to prevent the spread of infection during the games can provide useful reference as each country contemplates the strengthening of its own measures. It is also suggested that global warming may give rise to the possibility of some hitherto unknown virus triggering a pandemic. The Olympics and Paralympics provide an opportunity to reaffirm the need to be ready for such contingencies.
It is vital that government and private sectors join forces to successfully hold the Olympics and Paralympics, as a proof that the international community is working in solidarity to overcome the pandemic. If we succeed, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will have a special place in the history of Olympics in multiple senses.
Capacity of Sports to Invigorate Human Beings and Society
Sports have an immeasurable capacity to invigorate human beings and society. The Olympic torch relay, which started last March in Fukushima, is proceeding as planned. Even though we may not be able to cheer them directly on site, we can draw inspiration and courage from the way the athletes will tackle their challenges with passion and determination. We also wish to laud the athletes who have withstood rigorous trainings under the trying circumstances of COVID-19.
I do hope that we can send as many uplifting messages of hope as possible though the Olympics and Paralympics, so that we can encourage the people around the world who are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. After all, there can be no Japan without the world.
As we share the appreciation of the significance of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics with people in many countries of the world, we can make Japan’s presence felt more widely in the international community.
Yohei Sasakawa is Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. This article was published in the June 10, 2021 edition of Sankei Shimbun.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
五輪開催は国際社会への「公約」
笹川 陽平 / 日本財団会長
2021年 6月 22日
開会まで1カ月余となった東京五輪に参加する外国選手団の先陣を切って6月1日、豪州のソフトボールチームが来日した。今後、各国の選手団や報道、スポンサー関係者らの来日が続く。
≪大きいオリ・パラ開催の意義≫
日本は“おもてなしの心”で安心安全な大会を開催することを約束して今回の東京五輪・パラリンピック（オリ・パラ）の開催国となった。わが国よりはるかに深刻な新型コロナ感染を体験、あるいは現在も直面している多くの国が選手団を派遣してくるのは、わが国が安心安全な大会を開催すると信じてのことだ。
各種世論調査によると、大会の中止、再延期を求める声は依然、根強く、ともすれば国論を二分した議論が続いている。しかし、今必要なのは開催の是非をめぐる議論ではなく、国際社会に約束した安心安全な大会の実現に向けた取り組みの強化である。それが開催国の責務であり、東京開催に賛同してくれた多くの国に対する礼儀と考える。
同時に新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的大流行）下で開催される今回の大会は、コロナ封じ込めに向け国際社会が連帯を確認する重要な場となる。五輪史上、例のない特異な開催の位置付けだ。
コロナ禍の影響で海外客の受け入れが見送られ、見た目には2013年に国際オリンピック委員会（IOC）で東京開催が決定した当時に比べ、内容は地味でコンパクトな作りとなる。しかし、平時に開催されるオリ・パラに比べ、大会が持つ重要性と意義ははるかに大きい。
≪連帯する必要性を確認する場≫
筆者は3月の本欄（産経新聞「正論」）に「万難排し『オリ・パラ』の開催を！」の一文を投稿し、コロナ禍の中で大会を開催する意義を訴えた。世界各国が一堂に会し世界が注目するオリ・パラこそ、パンデミックの封じ込めに向け、国際社会が相互に協力・連帯の必要性を確認する最もふさわしい場であり、万難を排し開催するよう訴える内容だ。
現下の新型コロナによるパンデミックは、1918年から20年にかけ大流行し、世界で5億人が感染、死者数が5千万人を超えたとされるスペイン風邪に次ぐ広がりを見せている。次々に新型株が生まれ、仮に一国で収束しても、人が激しく動く近年の国際社会で新たな感染拡大を防ぐのは極めて難しい。
各国の密接な情報交換やワクチンの共同開発・普及など国際協力が実現して初めてコロナ封じ込めの可能性が見えてくる。
政府が今月2日、オンラインで国際組織と共催したワクチンサミットで、先行した2億ドルに加え新たに8億ドル（877億円）を追加拠出する方針を約40に上る参加国に表明したのも、単なる途上国支援ではなく国際的な連帯を加速させるのが狙いと理解する。
具体策の検討が他の専門機関に委ねられるのは言うまでもない。オリ・パラが担うのは、そうした機運の醸成である。政府および大会関係者には、開会に向け、そうした取り組みを一層、強化していただきたく考える。
コロナ禍では既に世界で1億7千万人が感染し、死者も370万人を超えた。長いコロナとの戦いで、どの国も国民生活や経済が疲弊の極みにある。障害者や女性を取り巻く環境も急速に悪化している。国際社会の連帯・協力なしにコロナ禍を乗り切るのは難しい。急速に世界に広がる自国優先主義、排外主義に対抗する上でも、国際的な連帯が一層、必要となる。
大会には選手1万5千人と報道・スポンサー関係者ら7万8千人の来日が見込まれている。ワクチン接種を済ませた上で来日し、滞在中、PCR検査や外出制限を徹底するよう求められている。大会で実施される感染拡大の防止策は、今後、各国がコロナ対策を強化する上でも参考となろう。温暖化の影響で今後も未知の感染症によるパンデミックが発生する可能性が指摘される中、その備えの必要性を確認する機会にもなる。
国際社会が連帯してパンデミックと戦った証しとするためにも、官民の幅広い協力で大会を成功させる必要がある。成功すれば東京オリ・パラはさまざまな意味で五輪史に特筆されることになる。
≪人と社会元気づけるスポーツ≫
スポーツが社会や人を元気づける力は限りなく大きい。3月に福島県をスタートした聖火リレーも予定通り進んでいる。たとえ会場で直接、応援ができなくとも、アスリートの熱い戦いから感動と勇気を受け取ることができる。コロナ禍の中で厳しいトレーニングに励んできたアスリートたちの努力もたたえたいと思う。
コロナ禍に苦しむ世界の人々を勇気づけるためにも、大会を通じて日本発の明るいニュースが少しでも多く発信されるよう願う。世界あっての日本である。
大会が持つ意義がより多くの国の人々に共有されることが、国際社会におけるわが国のプレゼンスを高めることにもなる。
筆者は日本財団会長。本記事は２０２１年６月１０日付産経新聞に掲載された。
≪大きいオリ・パラ開催の意義≫
日本は“おもてなしの心”で安心安全な大会を開催することを約束して今回の東京五輪・パラリンピック（オリ・パラ）の開催国となった。わが国よりはるかに深刻な新型コロナ感染を体験、あるいは現在も直面している多くの国が選手団を派遣してくるのは、わが国が安心安全な大会を開催すると信じてのことだ。
各種世論調査によると、大会の中止、再延期を求める声は依然、根強く、ともすれば国論を二分した議論が続いている。しかし、今必要なのは開催の是非をめぐる議論ではなく、国際社会に約束した安心安全な大会の実現に向けた取り組みの強化である。それが開催国の責務であり、東京開催に賛同してくれた多くの国に対する礼儀と考える。
同時に新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的大流行）下で開催される今回の大会は、コロナ封じ込めに向け国際社会が連帯を確認する重要な場となる。五輪史上、例のない特異な開催の位置付けだ。
コロナ禍の影響で海外客の受け入れが見送られ、見た目には2013年に国際オリンピック委員会（IOC）で東京開催が決定した当時に比べ、内容は地味でコンパクトな作りとなる。しかし、平時に開催されるオリ・パラに比べ、大会が持つ重要性と意義ははるかに大きい。
≪連帯する必要性を確認する場≫
筆者は3月の本欄（産経新聞「正論」）に「万難排し『オリ・パラ』の開催を！」の一文を投稿し、コロナ禍の中で大会を開催する意義を訴えた。世界各国が一堂に会し世界が注目するオリ・パラこそ、パンデミックの封じ込めに向け、国際社会が相互に協力・連帯の必要性を確認する最もふさわしい場であり、万難を排し開催するよう訴える内容だ。
現下の新型コロナによるパンデミックは、1918年から20年にかけ大流行し、世界で5億人が感染、死者数が5千万人を超えたとされるスペイン風邪に次ぐ広がりを見せている。次々に新型株が生まれ、仮に一国で収束しても、人が激しく動く近年の国際社会で新たな感染拡大を防ぐのは極めて難しい。
各国の密接な情報交換やワクチンの共同開発・普及など国際協力が実現して初めてコロナ封じ込めの可能性が見えてくる。
政府が今月2日、オンラインで国際組織と共催したワクチンサミットで、先行した2億ドルに加え新たに8億ドル（877億円）を追加拠出する方針を約40に上る参加国に表明したのも、単なる途上国支援ではなく国際的な連帯を加速させるのが狙いと理解する。
具体策の検討が他の専門機関に委ねられるのは言うまでもない。オリ・パラが担うのは、そうした機運の醸成である。政府および大会関係者には、開会に向け、そうした取り組みを一層、強化していただきたく考える。
コロナ禍では既に世界で1億7千万人が感染し、死者も370万人を超えた。長いコロナとの戦いで、どの国も国民生活や経済が疲弊の極みにある。障害者や女性を取り巻く環境も急速に悪化している。国際社会の連帯・協力なしにコロナ禍を乗り切るのは難しい。急速に世界に広がる自国優先主義、排外主義に対抗する上でも、国際的な連帯が一層、必要となる。
大会には選手1万5千人と報道・スポンサー関係者ら7万8千人の来日が見込まれている。ワクチン接種を済ませた上で来日し、滞在中、PCR検査や外出制限を徹底するよう求められている。大会で実施される感染拡大の防止策は、今後、各国がコロナ対策を強化する上でも参考となろう。温暖化の影響で今後も未知の感染症によるパンデミックが発生する可能性が指摘される中、その備えの必要性を確認する機会にもなる。
国際社会が連帯してパンデミックと戦った証しとするためにも、官民の幅広い協力で大会を成功させる必要がある。成功すれば東京オリ・パラはさまざまな意味で五輪史に特筆されることになる。
≪人と社会元気づけるスポーツ≫
スポーツが社会や人を元気づける力は限りなく大きい。3月に福島県をスタートした聖火リレーも予定通り進んでいる。たとえ会場で直接、応援ができなくとも、アスリートの熱い戦いから感動と勇気を受け取ることができる。コロナ禍の中で厳しいトレーニングに励んできたアスリートたちの努力もたたえたいと思う。
コロナ禍に苦しむ世界の人々を勇気づけるためにも、大会を通じて日本発の明るいニュースが少しでも多く発信されるよう願う。世界あっての日本である。
大会が持つ意義がより多くの国の人々に共有されることが、国際社会におけるわが国のプレゼンスを高めることにもなる。
筆者は日本財団会長。本記事は２０２１年６月１０日付産経新聞に掲載された。
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟