Tokyo 2020

The results are in from Saturday, September 7^th and it was announced shortly after that Tokyo will be hosting the Summer Olympic Games in 2020.  Tokyo beat out competitors, Madrid and Istanbul, by calling themselves, “the safe choice” (CNN, 2013).  Other countries are questioning the safety conditions in Japan because of the Fukushima disaster.  In France for example, shortly after Tokyo 2020 was announced, a satirical newspaper published a comic portraying sumo wrestlers with multiple limbs fighting in front of what looks like the destroyed TEPCO nuclear power plant (AFP, 2013).  The government has responded to the negative image by filing a formal complaint against the newspaper and stating once again that all is under control (McCurry, 2013).  The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, reassured the Olympic Committee by promising, “a safe and secure Olympic Games…” (CNN, 2013). 

Regardless of the statements made by the government and Abe, questioning of Tokyo 2020 remains.  First, will the clean up of Fukushima be completed before the Olympics and if it’s not, what will the effect be on attendants and athletes at the Olympic Games?  Secondly, the cost of hosting an Olympic Games is massive; Japan has already collected $4.9 billion in preparation (CNN, 2013).  The question is raised, should Japan be pushing all its resources into prepping for the Games, or should the $4.9 billion raised be used toward clean up and research on the effects of Fukushima?  Or, will the revenue brought in from the Olympic Games be enough to reimburse Japan for the costs it’s currently facing? 

McCurry, J. (2013, September, 12). French Fukushima Cartoon Offends Japan. Theguardian.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/12/french-fukushima-cartoon-offends-japan.

AFP. (2013, September 12). Japan upset at French magazine’s Fukushima cartoon. Thetelegraph.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10303839/Japan-upset-at-French-magazines-Fukushima-cartoon.html.

CNN staff. (2013, September 8).  Tokyo to host 2020 Olympic Games. CNN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013 from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/07/sport/world-olympics-2020/.