Two sides to the Olympics

Limba Mupetami The Tokyo Olympics are now just over two months away and calls to ditch the prestigious Games in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic are getting louder by the day, especially in Japan.The country has extended its state of emergency as cases continue to rise, thus putting an increased burden on the healthcare system. And with cases rising, more and more deaths are being reported and, as expected, this has many people living in fear.This is expected because with so many people expected to flock to the Games, different mutant strains of the virus that exist in different places will be concentrated in Tokyo. This is, of course, news coming from the concerned doctors in Japan. Doctors who are giving the best scientific evidence to support their call.Since last year, there have been 720 000 cases and 12 200 deaths reported in that country.And still, there's been no word about cancelling the Games which will involve 33 competitions and 339 events across 42 venues, because to be quite honest, this is a very tricky situation, with two sides to be looked at.Firstly, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which owns the Games have invested billions into making sure the Games take place. Hence they don’t want to make a decision with regards to calling the Games off for the second time. The IOC makes around 70% of its money from broadcast rights and around 18% from sponsorship. So, surely, if the Games don’t go ahead, it could severely damage their finances and cripple future plans of the Olympic movement.Yes, the Olympics are the biggest sporting event on the calendar and there are billions at stake - not only for the IOC, but also the country itself.There are definitely major contractual obligations for all sides. The athletes have also invested so much money into preparation. Hotels and restaurants have also undergone renovations in preparation for tourists they thought they would receive during the Games.But the seriousness of the matter is that people are dying and at the moment in Japan, the vaccine isn’t widely available in many lower-income communities.Because of these factors, I too at this moment in time think that it is best to call it off. Yes, I want the Olympics to happen. I want the Namibian athletes as well as those from across the world who have qualified to get a chance to compete. I want to see the likes of Helaria Johannes competing - this could be her last Olympic Games. I want to see youngsters such as Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma getting a chance to rub shoulders with the best in the world.But I’m concerned about their welfare and want them to compete in a safe environment and not to be sent into the lion’s den in the name of competing at the Olympics.I’m sure that the organisers are working around the clock to ensure that they are following protocols set in place by the World Health Organisation and are carrying out preparations with the Olympic Charter in mind, which stipulates that the IOC should ensure the health of the athletes and promote safe sports.Right now, the uncertainty around the Games continues to linger, and the rest of the world waits. limba@namibiansun.com

Two sides to the Olympics

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Republikein 2026-05-14

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Two sides to the Olympics

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Republikein 2026-05-14

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