Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will remotely address the 76th meeting of the UN General Assembly in a pre-recorded message at UN Headquarters on Friday, September 24, 2021. (Peter Foley / Pool photo via AP)
United Nations (AP) — At the global melancholy UN General Assembly, Japan’s extroverted leader highlighted what he threw as a moment of inspiration: controversy in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic. The Tokyo Olympics that are being brewed.
“Humanity is facing immense difficulties, but the Tokyo 2020 Games have proved to be a symbol of global unity of people around the world,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga began his speech on Thursday.
After the tournament was postponed from the original 2020 date due to a pandemic, Japan discussed for months whether to hold the tournament. Suga and the International Olympic Committee finally decided that the Games would continue with a very strict virus safety protocol.
The requirements included multiple tests for all pre-arrival Olympic visitors, as well as on-arrival testing and soft quarantine. Most events and venues were empty and travel was strictly regulated.
Still, many Japanese objected to holding an event when the country’s virus outbreak was exacerbating. There were protests as the tournament approached, but after the opening the opposition weakened and residents began to follow the tournament on television, ending with 58 record medals in Japan, including 27 gold. ..
Infections within the so-called “Olympic bubble” were eventually reduced to hundreds. However, other than that, due to the rapid increase in coronavirus, several states of emergency were issued nationwide as the tournament was held.
“There were different views on hosting the tournament this summer, but as the host country of the tournament, we have fulfilled our responsibilities and achieved our goals,” said Mr. Suga. He praised the athlete who gave “hope and dreams to everyone in the world.”
Suga will resign when his term ends at the end of this month. He saw support for his government plunge for the handling of the virus.
He served only one year after taking over from his predecessor Shinzo Abe.
Japanese leaders say the Olympics were a “symbol of global unity” | WGN Radio 720
Source link Japanese leaders say the Olympics were a “symbol of global unity” | WGN Radio 720
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