Photo: Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
TheTokyo Olympicsare becoming increasingly complicated for organizers.
According to theAssociated Press, nearly 10,000 of 80,000 unpaid volunteers have pulled out from participating in the event, set to begin on July 23. Organizers admitted some of the volunteers resigned from the positions due toCOVID-19fears, among other reasons.
In late April, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga first announced that Japan would be undergoing its third COVID-19-related lockdown, as Tokyo and three other prefectures — Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo — experienced a sharp increase in cases,NPRreported at the time. The country has since expanded those measures multiple times.
Man in mask standing near Olympic rings in Tokyo.BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty
Despite this, the country and the International Olympic Committee, have maintained that the Olympics are to move ahead as scheduled.
“As for the Olympics, I am aware that there are various opinions (about holding the event) but our priority is stemming the spread of infections and protecting the lives and health of the Japanese people,” the prime ministersaid during an announcement last month, Reuters reported.
Back in March, officials announceda ban on overseas spectatorsfor the Olympics. And last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel advisory, urging Americans not to go to Japan. Though the U.S. Olympic Committee insisted the advisory did not affect Team USA’s plans.
source: people.com
