Concerns and controversies at the 2020 Summer Olympics

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2020 Summer Olympics

A number of concerns and controversies have arisen in relation to the 2020 Summer Olympics, which are taking place in Tokyo, Japan. The Games were postponed until July 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IOC stated that their Japanese partners and the former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, "made it very clear" in 2020, "that Japan could not manage a postponement beyond next summer [2021] at the latest".[1] Just weeks before the opening of the Tokyo Games, honorary patron Emperor Naruhito was said to be "extremely worried about the current status of coronavirus infections,"[2] and was "concerned that while there are voices of anxiety among the public, the holding (of the events) may lead to the expansion of infections".[3]

There have been allegations of bribery in the Japanese Olympic Committee's (JOC) bid for the Games, of plagiarism in the initial design for the Games' logo, and of illegal overwork by dozens of companies involved in construction for the Games. Notable safety concerns for athletes have included radiation levels from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, water quality, and expected heat levels. Political controversies include the use of maps showing disputed territories as part of Japan, and a refusal to ban the Rising Sun Flag at Olympic venues.

Organisational issues and controversies

Bribery and corruption

In January 2016, the second part of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission report into corruption included a footnote detailing a conversation between Khalil Diack, son of former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack, and Turkish officials from the Istanbul bid team.[4] A transcript of the conversation cited in the report suggested that a "sponsorship" payment of between US$4 million and 5 million had been made by the Japanese bid team "either to the Diamond League or IAAF".[4] The footnote claimed that because Istanbul did not make such a payment, the bid lost the support of Lamine Diack. The WADA declined to investigate the claim because it was, according to its independent commission, outside the agency's remit.[4]

In July and October 2013 (prior to, and after, being awarded the Games), Tokyo made two bank payments totaling 2,800,000 Singapore dollars million to a Singapore-based company known as Black Tidings. The company is tied to Papa Massata Diack, a son of Lamine Diack who worked as a marketing consultant for the IAAF, and is being pursued by French authorities under allegations of bribery, corruption, and money laundering.[5] Black Tidings is held by Ian Tan Tong Han, a consultant to Athletics Management and Services—which manages the IAAF's commercial rights and has business relationships with Japanese firm Dentsu. Black Tidings has also been connected to a doping scandal involving the Russian athletics team.[5][6][7]

Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Tokyo 2020 board member Tsunekazu Takeda stated that the payments were for consulting services, but refused to discuss the matter further because it was confidential. Toshiaki Endo called on Takeda to publicly discuss the matter. Massata Diack denied that he had received any money from Tokyo's organising committee.[5][7] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) established a team to investigate these matters, and will closely follow the French investigation.[8]

In January 2019, a source revealed that Takeda was being formally investigated over alleged corruption.[9] On 19 March 2019, Takeda resigned from the JOC.[10]

In November 2019, it was reported that the Tokyo's Olympic bid committee's accounting documents, detailing over 900 million yen (≈ 8 million US$) spent on overseas consultancy firms for Tokyo's 2020 Olympics hosting bid, were missing.[11]

In September 2020, the FinCEN Files revealed how payments had been made to the son of an influential IOC member in relation to winning the bid for the Olympic Games.[12][13]

On June 7, 2021, Moriya Yasushi, the accounting manager of JOC, committed suicide. There is no suicide note and the motive for his suicide is unknown.[14]

Logo plagiarism

The original logos of the 2020 Summer Olympics (top left) and Paralympics (top right) and the logo of the Théâtre de Liège (bottom).

The initial designs for the official emblems of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled on 24 July 2015. The logo resembled a stylised "T": a red circle in the top-right corner representing a beating heart, the flag of Japan, and an "inclusive world in which everyone accepts each other"; and a dark grey column in the centre representing diversity.[15] The Paralympic emblem inverted the light and dark columns of the pattern to resemble an equal sign.[16]

Shortly after the unveiling, Belgian graphics designer Olivier Debie accused the organising committee of plagiarising a logo he had designed for the Théâtre de Liège, which aside from the circle, consisted of nearly identical shapes. Tokyo's organising committee denied that the emblem design was plagiarised, arguing that the design had gone through "long, extensive and international" intellectual property examinations before it was cleared for use.[17][18] Debie filed a lawsuit against the IOC to prevent use of the infringing logo.[19]

The emblem's designer, Kenjirō Sano, defended the design, stating that he had never seen the Liège logo, while the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) released an early sketch of the design that emphasised a stylised "T" and did not resemble the Liège logo.[19] However, Sano was found to have had a history of plagiarism allegations, with others alleging his early design plagiarised work of Jan Tschichold, and that he used a photo without permission in promotional materials for the emblem, along with other past cases.[19] On 1 September 2015, following an emergency meeting of TOCOG, Governor of Tokyo Yōichi Masuzoe announced that they had decided to scrap Sano's two logos. The committee met the following day to decide how to develop a new logo design.[19]

On 24 November 2015, an Emblems Selection Committee was established to organize an open call for design proposals, open to Japanese residents over the age of 18, with a deadline set for 7 December 2015. The winner would receive ¥1 million and tickets to the opening ceremonies of both the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.[20][21][22] On 8 April 2016, a new shortlist of four pairs of designs for the Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled by the Emblems Selection Committee; the Committee's selection—with influence from a public poll—was presented to TOCOG on 25 April 2016 for final approval.[21]

The new emblems for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled on 25 April 2016. Designed by Asao Tokolo, winner of the nationwide design contest, the emblems take the form of a ring in an indigo-colored checkerboard pattern. The design is meant to "express a refined elegance and sophistication that exemplifies Japan".[23]

Stadium design plagiarism

Further information: Japan National Stadium

After Tokyo submitted their bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, there was talk of possibly renovating or reconstructing the National Olympic Stadium. The stadium would host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events.[24]

It was confirmed in February 2012 that the stadium would be demolished and reconstructed, and receive a £1 billion upgrade. In November 2012, renderings of the new national stadium were revealed, based on a design by architect Zaha Hadid. The stadium was demolished in 2015 and the new one was originally scheduled to be completed in March 2019.[25] The new stadium will be the venue for athletics, rugby, some football games, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics.[26]

Due to budget constraints, the Japanese government announced several changes to Hadid's design in May 2015, including cancelling plans to build a retractable roof and converting some permanent seating to temporary seating.[27] The site area was also reduced from 71 to 52 acres. Several prominent Japanese architects, including Toyo Ito and Fumihiko Maki, criticized Hadid's design, with Ito comparing it to a turtle and Maki calling it a white elephant; others criticized the stadium's encroachment on the outer gardens of the Meiji Shrine. Arata Isozaki, on the other hand, commented that he was "shocked to see that the dynamism present in the original had gone" in the redesign of Hadid's original plan.[28]

After the futuristic Olympic stadium design by the British architect Zaha Hadid were ditched for cost-related reasons, new design by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma faced plagiarism accusations due to its similarities to Hadid's original blueprint.[29][30] Kuma admitted that there are similarities, but denied copying the work of Hadid.[31][32]

Environmental degradations

On the contrary to its motto to be an "eco-friendly" olympic, mass logging for the 2020 game has become an issue, triggering concerns and protests from citizens and environmental organizations. Domestically, a large amount of trees and shrubs of a nature park have been cut down for the construction of the venue, and the shrubs became wastes without further uses.[33] Some loggings were done without notifying the Ainu tribe in Hokkaido, reported not to meet the criteria of timber procurement.[34] The sequences of logging and procurement for the game, mainly done on rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia, have received international criticism. It is believed that it infringed the rights of residents, and 140,000 people signed the petition against deforestation, and 47 organizations applied to the IOC to stop procuring timber, claiming that the Tokyo game will be a symbol of environmental destruction and violations of human rights. In Borneo, a chief of a local village wrote a petition to stop timber procurement there.[35][36][37][38]

In addition, timber supplied via companies, including one suspected of its illegal logging there for about 20 years, has already been confirmed being used at the new national stadium and Ariake Arena.[39]

Environment, health and safety concerns

COVID-19 pandemic and other contagion risks

See also: COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, List of athletes not attending the 2020 Summer Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns, and COVID-19 cases at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Temperature check and COVID-19 countermeasures at the tennis venue

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic itself has been a concern for the 2020 Summer Olympics which is scheduled to take place in Tokyo starting end of July, and due to the Olympics the country's government has been taking extra precautions to help minimise the outbreak's worst impact.[40][41] The Tokyo organising committee and the International Olympic Committee have been monitoring the outbreak's impact in Japan.[40]

In the run-up to the Olympics, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has been carrying out catch-up vaccinations for the large portions of the Japanese population left unprotected from common infectious diseases at the inoculation over the last few decades.[42] For example, Japan has no mandatory mumps vaccination and is fourth in the world in mumps cases, after China, Nepal and Burkina Faso, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).[42]

Following the outbreaks of rubella in Japan, which prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to warn pregnant women of travel to Japan in 2018, the country's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has been conducting inoculation of middle-aged men who had been left out of rubella vaccinations in the 1970s and 1980.[42]

In a February 2020 interview with City A.M., the Conservative London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey argued that London would be able to host the Olympic Games at the former London 2012 Olympic venues, should the Games need to be moved due to the ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.[43] Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike criticised Bailey's comment as inappropriate.[44] The organisers said on 3 March that the Olympics will go on as planned.[45]

On 20 March 2020, the World Anti Doping Agency noted that the coronavirus outbreak was seriously affecting doping tests in advance of the games.[46] The IOC regulations required extensive testing in the months prior to the event. China had temporarily stopped testing in February,[47] and the United States, France, Great Britain and Germany had reduced testing by March. European anti-doping agencies raised concerns that blood and urine tests could not be performed, and that mobilizing the staff necessary to do so before the end of the pandemic would be a health risk.[46]

On 24 March 2020, due to the rapidly-spreading COVID-19 pandemic across Europe, Africa and the Americas, the Summer Olympics were postponed to 2021, still being held in Tokyo.[48]

There was speculation that the Japanese government was repressing the extent of the infection to make sure that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games would be held on schedule. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama suggested that the number of confirmed cases was downplayed by the Japanese government in order to preserve the Olympics as scheduled, adding that Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike put the 2020 Olympics first rather than Tokyo citizens first.[49] The country saw a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases after the postponement was announced, but health minister Katsunobu Kato denied the rumour that the postponement of the Olympics was tied to the spike in confirmed cases.[50]

In April, Will Ripley, a correspondent for CNN, said that in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese government was fighting to save the Olympics, as other countries were taking aggressive measures to fight COVID-19.[51] He also mentioned that the confirmed COVID-19 cases suddenly increased after the postponement of the Olympics was announced, pointing out that Japan's approach kept cases low so that the Japanese government could save the Olympics.[52]

In May 2021, a group of health experts warned that the Tokyo Games without adopting a practical risk-management approach could end up with widespread transmission. Pointing out the fact that "adolescents between 15 and 17 years of age cannot be vaccinated in most countries, and children younger than 15 can be vaccinated in even fewer countries," they discussed the possibility that without regular testing, participants especially teenage athletes "could become infected during the Olympics and pose a risk when they return home to more than 200 countries".[53]

Under G5.2 of the Contractual Framework for Hosting Olympic and Paralympic Games, the host country has the legal obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure that their Olympic-related activities should comply with any international agreements with regard to safety and health. However, in July 2020 the Japanese government promoted "GO TO TRAVEL" campaign, a domestic travel campaign in order to mitigate the devastating impacts of the coronavirus on the Japanese economy. In January 2021, researchers at Kyoto University showed that the tourism campaign contributed to a sharp increase in COVID infection cases in the country. While the Japanese government said that there was no evidence that the campaign was liked to surge in coronavirus infections, another study which was published in December 2020 showed that a higher incidence of COVID-19 symptoms among those who had participated in the travel campaign.[54]

Fukushima radiation

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced that the Olympics torch relay will begin in Fukushima, and the Olympic baseball and softball matches will be played at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium, 55 miles (89 km) from the site of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, despite the fact that the scientific studies on the safety of Fukushima are currently in dispute.[55][56] In relation to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in multiple nuclear meltdowns and an official Level 7 disaster, officials from the WHO and the United Nations have determined that the risks of dangerous radiation exposure are minimal.[57] Nevertheless, some scientists and citizens remain skeptical.[58][59][60]

For example, Tilman Ruff, a public health expert and a co-founder of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), urged the Australian Olympic Committee to properly inform its staff and athletes attending the 2020 Tokyo Games about the ongoing health effects of the Fukushima radiation.[61]

Former nuclear industry executive and whistle blower Arnold Gundersen and his institute, Fairewinds Associates, tested for the presence of radioactive dust on land scheduled to be used for certain events, including baseball, softball and the Olympic torch relay.[62] At these facilities, the legally allowable radiation levels are higher than at other athletic facilities.[63] According to certain models, such as the National Academy of Sciences' "linear, no-threshold" model, small increases in radiation exposure may cause proportional health risks.[64] The Japanese government posted that measured radiation levels in the city of Fukushima are comparable with safe readings in Hong Kong and Seoul, while Tokyo's readings are even lower, in line with Paris and London.[65] However, the data collected by the monitoring posts installed by the Japanese governments are partial and non-representative of the extent of radioactive contamination, as they measure only the atmospheric radiation levels in the form of gamma rays, but not radionuclides, such as cesium-137, which emit alpha and beta particles that are dangerous when inhaled or ingested.[65] It is also pointed out that the government-installed monitoring posts are placed strategically and the areas surrounding the posts were cleaned so that the radiation levels remain lower.[65] Greenpeace reported that the radiation levels measured around the J-Village sports camp in Fukushima, where the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay will begin, were 1,700 times higher than before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.[66][67][68] Even though the Japanese government promised to keep the radiation levels below 0.23 µSv per hour, radiation hot spots at the J-Village showed readings as high as 1.7 µSv per hour at 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) above the surface and over 71 µSv per hour at the surface level.[66][67][68]

Additionally, food from the region, currently under import restrictions in 23 countries,[69] is tested intensively for safety.[70] In October 2019, after tons of poorly-secured radioactive Fukushima waste were swept away by typhoon Hagibis, IOC chief Thomas Bach promised to carry out inspections on radiation safety.[71] Meals containing ingredients from Fukushima Prefecture being served in the Olympic Village has been a source of concern, and countries such as South Korea have started their own food service for its athletes and staff.[72]

In November 2019, a Japanese citizens' group Minna-No Data Site (Everyone's Data Site) published an English version of Citizens' Radiation Data Map of Japan, a 16-page booklet featuring radiation-level maps, created using soil samples from 3,400 sites in 17 prefectures in eastern Japan, the results of three-year land contamination surveys with approximately 4,000 volunteers.[73]

Heat and air-conditioning

Tokyo's bid to host the Summer Olympics played down concerns over heat, with the proposal reading "With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform at their best". However, the 2020 Olympics are expected to be the hottest Olympics ever,[74] due to Tokyo's hot summer climate (the 1964 Summer Olympics were held in October to avoid the heat), the urban heat island effect and climate change.[75]

In October 2019, the International Olympic Committee announced plans for moving the Olympic marathon and race walking to Sapporo, more than 800 kilometres (500 mi) further north from Tokyo, in a bid to avoid heat.[76] The Tokyo Metropolitan Government strongly opposed the IOC's decision, suggesting to move the marathon start time up one hour to 5:00 a.m.,[77] while Sapporo welcomed the IOC announcement.[78] In October 2019, Japanese politician Shigefumi Matsuzawa wrote to IOC chief Thomas Bach to move the Olympic golf tournaments, scheduled to take place at Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Saitama Prefecture, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest of Tokyo, to a region with fewer heat problems.[79]

Concern over indoor temperatures has also been raised, since, for cost reduction, Tokyo's New National Stadium was built without an air conditioner, and the roof was constructed over the spectator seating only.[80] Additionally, a sports museum and sky walkway that were part of the scrapped design were eliminated, while VIP lounges and seats were reduced, along with reduced underground parking facilities. These reductions result in a site of 198,500 square meters, 13% less than originally planned. Air conditioning for the stadium was also abandoned upon request of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, and when asked about the abandonment Minister for the Olympics Toshiaki Endo stated that "Air conditioners are installed in only two stadiums around the world, and they can only cool temperatures by 2 or 3°C".[81]

In December 2019, the Asahi Shimbun reported that, due to the dangers of hyperthermia, 206 primary schools in 24 out of 50 wards in Tokyo Prefecture had given up their tickets to the Olympic and Paralympic games, which had been allocated to children by the government.[82] Also, 101 additional schools told Asahi that they were considering giving up their tickets.[82] According to the report, more than 70% of the private primary schools in Tokyo are planning to refrain from taking students to the Olympic and Paralympic games.[82]

On 23 July 2021, Russian archer Svetlana Gomboeva collapsed due to heat[83] during the qualifying Olympic round.[84]

Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic suggested that organisers should delay the start times of tennis matches until the evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day when temperatures hovered around 33 degrees Celsius. On 28 July 2021, Medvedev asked the umpire who would be responsible if he died during his Olympic tennis match. Paula Badosa, who got through to the quarter final, was forced to withdraw from the competition because she suffered heatstroke in the extremely hot weather.[85] (Note: In 1964, the last time Tokyo hosted the Olympics, the Games took place in October to avoid the brutal conditions. Tennis was not part of the Olympic sport at the time.)

Water quality and temperatures

The sea off the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo Bay, the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons, has been reported to contain high levels of faecally-derived coliform bacteria.[86][87]

On 17 August 2019, the Paratriathlon World Cup scheduled at the venue was cancelled due to a high concentration of E. coli bacteria in the water.[88] In the same year, some triathletes who competed in the world triathlon mixed-relay event at the park complained about the water's foul odor, saying that it "smelt like a lavatory".[89] Scientists also urged the Olympic organisers to abandon the venue.[89] In the same month, Ous Mellouli, Yumi Kida and other athletes who participated an Olympic open water test event in Odaiba Marine Park expressed their concerns over water temperature, odor, and clarity.[90] Water temperature during the event was at 30.9 °C (87.6 °F), barely inside of acceptable range for official competition by FINA: 16–31 °C (61–88 °F).[90]

In December 2019, the USA Olympic Open Water Team head coach Catherine Kase and the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) asked the open water venue to be moved out of Tokyo to safer waters.[91] Saying that they "are not comfortable with the Odaiba venue", the US swimmers and coaches called for a viable back-up plan for open-water venue, in case swimming in Tokyo Bay is not safe due to environmental factors, such as near danger levels of water temperatures (averaging 29–30 °C (84–86 °F) in summer 2019) and water quality issues including E. coli bacteria and water transparency problems.[92]

In February 2020, swimmer Haley Anderson voiced her concerns for the compromised water quality (E. coli), unsafe water temperature (84–86 °F (29–30 °C)), and lack of plan B venue for the Tokyo Olympics, saying the swimmers "have spoken out and gone unheard so far".[90] She also added that she is "not confident in FINA or the IOC to have the same concern for the athletes".[90]

Asbestos in Olympic venues

Asbestos, a well-known health hazard prohibited from being used as a building material in many countries including Japan, was found at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, where the Olympic water polo events take place.[93] In 2017, when the asbestos was first found in fireproof material sprayed on part of the structure supporting the swimming centre's roof, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government decided to leave it, deeming that the small amount of the mineral present would not be accessible to visitors.[93] In 2019, after media coverage, the organisers promised to take "emergency countermeasures" to solve the problem, without specifying what actions would be taken.[93]

Weather conditions

Following torrential rainfall, a landslide was triggered which swept through part of Atami, a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan on 3 July 2021, leaving 20 people missing and 2 dead and Tokyo Olympics has concerns organizing about weather delayed.[94][95] The city received 12.4 inches of rainfall in a 48-hour period, which prompted authorities to warn residents of "life threatening" conditions.[96] The landslide destroyed a number of houses and left roads covered with debris.[95][96]

Delayed for Tropical Storm Nepartak

Due to the weather effects from Tropical Storm Nepartak, certain sports' schedules were disrupted. The start of the women's triathlon was delayed, while surfing events moved a day ahead to take advantage of the waves. The schedules of the schedules of rowing and archery were also affected.[97]

Political and human rights issues

See also: 2020 Summer Olympics § Concerns and controversies

Worker rights

In 2017, the suicide of a Tokyo Olympic stadium worker was linked to overwork by Japanese labor inspectors.[98] The 23-year-old man in charge of quality control of materials at the stadium construction site was found to have recorded 211 hours and 56 minutes of overtime in one month before he killed himself in March.[98][99] Later in September, inspectors found illegal overwork in almost 40 companies, 18 of which had employees working overtime of more than 80 hours per month, and several of them exceeding 150 hours.[98] According to the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) report on worker safety, "dangerous patterns of overwork", including cases of working up to 28 consecutive days, have been found at Tokyo Olympic construction sites.[100] Construction workers, many of whom are foreign migrant workers, are reported to have been discouraged from reporting poor working conditions, and some workers are required to purchase their protective equipment.[100]

In December 2017, Mitsubishi Electric, an official partner of the 2020 Olympic games, locked 1,800 workers out of a Thailand factory. The workers were members of a trade union affiliated with the Confederation of Thai Electrical Appliances, Electronic Automobile & Metalworkers. The company then forced workers to attend eleven days of humiliating training at a military camp and cleaning old people's homes, among others, and forced them to publicly apologise to the company on social media. Most of the workers were reinstated in January 2018. IndustriALL Global Union condemned the harassment and filed a complaint with the Olympic's Organising Committee.[101][102]

Acknowledgement of disputed territories

Main articles: Liancourt Rocks dispute and Kuril Islands dispute

Russian and South Korean officials took issue with a map of the torch relay on the Games' official website, which depicted the disputed Liancourt Rocks (territory claimed by Japan but governed by South Korea) and Kuril Islands (territory claimed by Japan but governed by Russia since 1945) as part of Japan. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the inclusion as "illegal", and accused the Tokyo Organising Committee of "politicising" the Games.[103][104]

Rising Sun Flag

Rising Sun Flag

Some South Koreans consider the Rising Sun Flag to be offensive due to its usage by the Imperial Japanese military during World War II, as well as its current usage by controversial nationalist groups in Japan, such as Zaitokukai.[105][106][107][108] The flag, which has been compared by its detractors to the Nazi swastika, the US Confederate flag in modern times, and the Apartheid flag of South Africa, is associated by those detractors with war crimes and atrocities committed under the Empire of Japan, as well as contemporary Japan's far-right nationalist attempts to revise, deny, or romanticise its imperialistic past.[109]

The flag is currently banned by FIFA, and Japan was sanctioned by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after Japanese fans flew it at an AFC Champions League match in 2017.[110]

During an international fleet review in South Korea in 2018, Japan called off plan to participate after Seoul asked it not to fly the flag on warships—although it had done so without objections in fleet reviews in 1998 and 2008. China, which shares much larger historical grievances with Japan, did not complain when a Japanese naval vessel flew the rising sun ensign during a visit to a Chinese port in 2018.[110][111][112]

In September 2019, the South Korean parliamentary committee for sports asked the organisers of 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to ban the Rising Sun Flag,[113][114] and the Chinese Civil Association for Claiming Compensation from Japan sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee asking it to ban the flag.[115]

According to the Associated Press, the IOC issued a statement in response to South Korea's request, saying, "sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration. When concerns arise at games time we look at them on a case by case basis."[116]

South Korean team banner

The South Korean team put up a provocative banner on the balcony of the Olympic village, reminiscent of the 16th century war between Japan and Korea. The South Korean team removed the banner after the IOC warned it was a violation of the Olympic Charter. According to the South Korea's Olympic Committee, the IOC will apply the same rules if the Rising Sun Flag is raised.[117]

Expressions of political opinions by athletes

The IOC published three pages of guidelines prohibiting athletes from using political gestures, such as kneeling, hand gestures, and disrespect during medal ceremonies. They will be allowed to express political views on traditional media and social media, and in interviews outside the Olympic Village.[118][119] The decision came under fire, with critics pointing out that IOC itself is not politically neutral, citing Adolf Hitler's actions during the 1936 Summer Olympics and the IOC's efforts to be granted UN Observer status during the Cold War, among other things. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova tweeted, "God how I despise these Olympic politician opportunists. I wouldn't last one day on one of these committees..."[120]

In early May 2021, the IOC announced that they will ban athletes who wear apparel sporting the Black Lives Matter slogan at the Tokyo Olympics.[121]

Mobilisation of students for the Olympics

Criticism over mobilising students for the Olympic Games has been raised as students in Japanese schools whose principals have decided to accept the allocated Olympic and Paralympic tickets for school students are treated as absent from school if they do not attend the games.[122][clarification needed]

Cyber-reconnaissance

British officials claimed that the Russian GRU military intelligence agency conducted "cyber-reconnaissance" operations against organizers, logistics suppliers and sponsors. The GRU's operations were condemned by the United Kingdom and the US. The Tokyo Organising Committee said in a statement there was "no significant impact observed".[123]

Comments about Islam

Naoki Inose who was the Chairman of successful bid for the 2020 game triggered controversy for his comments on Islam, Istanbul, and their bid in 2013 as he described Muslim world to be "always fighting"[124] and "Well, compare the two countries where they have yet to build infrastructure, very sophisticated facilities. So from time to time, like Brazil, I think it’s good to have a venue for the first time. But Islamic countries, the only thing they share in common is Allah and they are fighting with each other and they have classes".[125]

As criticizing rival bids is prohibited under IOC rules, Inose's statement was viewed as a violation of regarding rules, and received international criticism. Inose later apologized for his comments, commenting he was "fully committed" to respect IOC rules.[126][127]

Remarks by key figures

Yoshiro Mori, originally the president of the Tokyo Olympics Committee, received domestic and international criticisms due to several of his actions viewed as sexist remarks, leading to his resignation.[128][129] Mori has been known for multiple controversies over his remarks on various topics throughout his career, and his such remarks were pointed out to infringe the belief of the Olympic Charter which respects human rights regardless of social statuses.[130][131][132] Despite Mori's reassignment, Seiko Hashimoto who is the following president of the committee, again triggered controversies over the same topic due to her previous conduct.[133][134] In July 2021, a plan arose to appoint Mori as the "Honorary Chief Advisor" of the committee to praise his achievements for the bids, sparking yet another argument.[135]

A top governmental adviser Yoichi Takahashi provoked additional controversies over his tweets which joked about domestic COVID-19 pandemic as a "ripple", resulted in further resignation of key figures.[136][137]

Related to the opening/closing ceremonies

Main articles: 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and 2020 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

Scandals of the opening/closing ceremonies directors

Hiroshi Sasaki: Insulting production for female performer

On 5 March 2020, Hiroshi Sasaki [ja], the creative director of the ceremonies, proposed the following direction in the LINE message referring to plus-sized Japanese comedian and actress Naomi Watanabe, who was speculated to have a role in the opening ceremony: "The part where she transforms into a pig. How to make her look cute. Olympig".[138] He submitted his resignation on 18 March 2021 after receiving criticism for proposing the staging plan to make Naomi Watanabe look like a pig.[139][140]

Kentaro Kobayashi: Past Holocaust jokes

On 21 July 2021, Japanese media reported that Kentarō Kobayashi, who was the director of the opening and closing ceremonies after Sasaki resigned, utilized The Holocaust by Nazi Germany in a script for his comedy in 1998, and he made malicious and anti-Semitic jokes including "Let's play Jews genocide game (Let's play Holocaust)."[141][142] The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), a Jewish human rights organization, immediately issued a statement of condemnation to the anti-Semitic jokes.[141][143] On 22 July, the day before the opening ceremony, the Organizing Committee announced its decision to dismiss Kobayashi.[144][145]

On the eve of the opening ceremony, Yoshihide Suga, who is the Prime Minister of Japan and the Supreme Advisor of the Organizing Committee,[146] described Kobayashi's jokes as "outrageous and unacceptable", but also said that the opening ceremony, directed by Kobayashi, should proceed as planned.[147]

Appointment of Keigo Oyamada

Main article: Cornelius (musician) § Bullying controversy

On 14 July 2021, the Organizing Committee announced the creative team for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics, and appointed Keigo Oyamada of Cornelius as a composer of the opening ceremony.[148][149] It caused a growing number of people on social media said that he was ineligible to be such role because he is widely known for his past bullying of people with apparent disabilities, such as Down syndrome.[150][151] He has inflicted horrific abuse on his peers when at school; such as forcing them to eat their excrement, masturbate in front of other students, etc., and he himself often told about the disability abuse stories as vaunt in several interviews[152] On 16 July, a week before the opening ceremony, the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which was questioned for insight and good sense, announced to support him as a composer and not to change the decision for the ceremonies.[153][154] Toshirō Mutō, the chief executive of the Organizing Committee, said he wanted Oyamada to remain involved.[152] Growing criticism forced Oyamada to announce his resignation on 19 July.[155][156]

Absence of foreign leaders

Due to various reasons such as the global rage of coronavirus variants, many leaders outside Japan have announced that they will not attend the ceremonies of this event.[157] Only leaders from around 15 countries and international organizations stated to visit Japan for the opening ceremony, although roughly 40 attended the same event for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.[157]

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, was only G7 leader outside Japan who announced to attend the opening ceremony in Tokyo as France is hosting the next Olympics. While Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States was also announced to attend the ceremony on behalf of her husband President Joe Biden as the United States will host the 2028 Summer Olympics.[157]

Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea, was originally thinking of planning to visit Japan to attend the opening ceremony, but canceled his plan after a senior diplomat of the Embassy of Japan, Seoul said the leader was "masturbating" if he thought he’d have a summit with Suga, the Prime Minister of Japan.[158]

Criticism from Senegalese musician

In July 2021, Latyr Sy, a Senegalese musician, posted on his Facebook about the cancellation of his already scheduled performance. Sy wrote that he was questioned by the Tokyo Organising Committee, "Why African is here to perform?"[159][160] Additionally, Sy said about the Organising Committee "It’s totally racist".[161]

The Japan Olympic Committee is a bunch of racists Just before the Olympic they canceled my performance at the opening ceremony because I am African (JOC judged I was inappropriate). They simply questioned “why African is here to perform??” though I’ve been contributing to the Japanese music industry since 1995… They completely violate the Olympic principles of human rights and diversity. So ashamed its so disgusting i feel insulted and have to let it out bcoz it hurts now. Why now just watching the news many saying this shouldn’t happen but for me born in island of dark history getting trough this is a scandale we are in 21 century how come this happen ?? Hope they got the answer ? Remember 400 years of suffering may peace prevail on Mother Earth salam have a great journey.

—Latyr Sy's Facebook

On 23 July, the day of the opening ceremony, some media reported his claim. At a regular press conference held the next morning, Masanori Takaya [ja], a spokesperson of the organising committee, said Sy's claim was completely different from the facts, and said "We had planned a music part in which many singers would participate, but due to infectious disease control and budget, we canceled the part itself. Therefore we canceled the appearance of all the participants in the music part. That is the background of that story."[162]

Music composed by Koichi Sugiyama

At the opening ceremony, the theme music from Dragon Quest was used as a part of the Parade of Nations. The Daily Beast, an American news website, posted an article criticizing this, because the composer of the music, Koichi Sugiyama, is also known for his denial of comfort women, his opposition to LGBTQ rights, and his ultranationalism.[163]

Protests during the opening ceremony

During the opening ceremony, protests opposing the Olympics were held in the southwestern corner of the Japan National Stadium, timed so that it would coincide with the beginning of the ceremony. The protest reportedly was loud enough at times to be heard from inside the stadium during the ceremony's quieter moments.[164][165][166]

South Korean broadcast of the opening ceremony

During the live broadcast of the opening ceremony, South Korean broadcaster MBC showed profiles of countries with insensitive or stereotypical facts and images during the parade of nations, such as Italy being represented by a picture of pizza, Romania represented by a picture of Dracula, Ukraine represented by a photo of the Chernobyl disaster, El Salvador represented by a photo of bitcoin exchange, Norway represented by a photo of a salmon, Mongolia represented by a photo of Genghis Khan, Syria's profile mentioning the Syrian civil war as having an "underground resources; a civil war that has been going on for 10 years", Haiti described as having an "unstable political situation due to the assassination of the president," Marshall Islands as a "once a nuclear test site for the United States," and Cayman Islands as being "infamous for tax evasion." After it became viral in foreign media, it was heavily criticized as insensitive and inappropriate. In the end, MBC issued an apology at the end of the broadcast of the opening ceremony, and later posted an apology in Korean and English on their official website.[167][168][169][170]

During the games

Swimming timing system

Four swimming heats recorded tied results, raising questions about the pool sensor timing systems in place. FINA officials said there was “nothing wrong” with the timing system.[171]

Anti-Israel incidents

In Judo, Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine pulled out of the competition before it began after learning that he could potentially face Israeli Tohar Butbul in the next round of competition. Butbul's next opponent, Sudan's Mohamed Abdalarasool, also pulled out of the competition before facing him.[172][173]

Iranian terrorist accusations

There were calls to suspend Iran's Javad Foroughi, who won gold in the men's 10 metre air pistol, after it emerged that he had served with the Quds Force in Syria.[174] The group is designated a terrorist organisation by many countries including the United States, Canada, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. United For Navid, a campaign group set up after the execution of Navid Afkari, demanded that the IOC's Ethics Commission launch an investigation and suspend Foroughi, whilst Korean shooter Jin Jong-oh said "How can a terrorist win first place? That's the most absurd and ridiculous thing."[175]

Shirt incident

Ng Ka Long, representing Hong Kong in men's singles in badminton, received criticism by Chinese nationalist politicians and netizens for wearing a black shirt during a match against Mexico’s Lino Muñoz; the color was a choice of rioters at the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. In addition, the missing Bauhinia emblem on his shirt also became a subject of criticism.[176][177] Ng responded on Instagram that his shirt sponsorship arrangement with Yonex, also worn by his badminton teammates, had expired just prior to the games.[178][179][180]

Online abuse of athletes and their official responses

South Korean athlete An San, who won triple gold, was criticized and abused by Koreans online who called her a "short-haired feminist" and asked the officials to take back her gold medal. The online hate and abuse was due to a rising antifeminist sentiments among Korean youth.[181][182]

Some Japanese athletes who beat Chinese athletes were abused online by some Chinese nationalists on Instagram, Twitter and Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Some Chinese nationalists questioned the scoring of Daiki Hashimoto, who won the gold medal in the men's artistic individual all-around of gymnastics, as he received a higher score to Xiao Ruoteng on the vault, despite his awkward landing on the mat.[183][184] They tagged Hashimoto's Instagram account with pictures of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and posted many insults. In response, the International Gymnastics Federation announced details of Hashimoto's scoring and made it clear that it was correct. Some Chinese nationalists also sent many messages wishing for their deaths to the SNS accounts of Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito, who won gold medals in mixed doubles of table tennis. In response, Katsunobu Katō, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Japanese government, said, "The bullying goes against the spirit of the Tokyo Olympics."[185]

Matea Jelić, the Croatian taekwondo athlete who won gold in the women's 67 kg competition, was sent abuse and death threats on Instagram by Serbian nationalists after stating that she would like to merge the celebration of her triumph in her hometown of Knin with the celebration of the 26th anniversary of Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence that lasted from 4 to 7 August 1995 and that ended the existance of the proto-state Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK), of which Knin was the capital.[186] Upon arriving at her hometown on 30 July, Jelić stated: "I am a Croat and will die a Croat. I am not ashamed of that. I am proud of that."[187] A few days later, on 1 August, she was a guest at the concert of Croatian nationalist musician Marko Perković in Drinovci, Bosnia and Herzegovina.[188] On 5 August, she was part of the official state celebration ceremony, raising the flag on the Knin Fortress.[189]

Belarusian athlete expulsion attempt

On 30 July 2021, Belarusian sprinter (100 and 200 m) Krystsina Tsimanouskaya criticized the national sports authorities and team management for forcing her to run 4 × 400 m relay without her consent.[190] On 1 August 2021, Tsimanouskaya was expelled from further competitions by the national sports authorities, reportedly as a consequence of her criticism. On the same day, the Belarusian sports officials tried to put her on a plane against her will. She sought the protection of police in Tokyo Haneda Airport and declared that she is not planning to return to Belarus.[191][192][193] According to the national athletics team officials, she was expelled for her "emotional and psychological state" after medical examination, but Tsimanouskaya denied that statement.[194] She asked the International Olympic Committee for help.[195]

Chinese athletes wearing Mao Zedong badges

During the medal ceremony on 2 August 2021, Chinese cyclists Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi, who had won gold at the women's team sprint event, appeared on the podium wearing pin badges ​with an image of former leader of China Mao Zedong. In response, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said the committee has began an investigation into the matter, to see if it violated Article 50 of the Olympic Charter which prohibits any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda in Olympic venues.[196][197][198][199]

See also

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