Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Naoto Ueyama, chairman of the Japan Doctors Union, warned on Thursday that going ahead with the Tokyo Games could lead to a possible ‘Olympics strain’ of the coronavirus.

Ueyama said he has submitted a request to the Japanese government to cancel the Tokyo Olympics because it poses a serious threat to the health of not only the Japanese people, but also international athletes.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, he warned against the danger of mutations of the coronavirus, which could prove to be very dangerous and more severe than previous variants.

He pointed out that the Olympic Games will bring in tens of thousands of people from around the world and could bring in many different virus strains, which could infect people returning to their home countries and introduce new strains there.

Replying to a question on the most effective way to “force” the Japanese government to cancel the games,  Ueyama said voices of ruling party parliamentary members and athletes opposed to the Olympics might trigger an action. 

Ueyama said it was an illusion that holding the Olympics could be a way to overcome the virus. The rate of vaccinations and PCR tests in Japan are very low compared to other countries. Holding the Olympics in these circumstances is a risk for the athletes and the people of Japan, he added.

He also pointed out that hospitals in Osaka are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and most Japanese already oppose the Games.

The IOC, on the other hand, said the Games can be held even during a state of emergency, which Ueyama said is “outrageous.”