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HOME  > Past issues  > 2021 August 18 - 24  > Cancel Paralympics and schoolchildren-participation project
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2021 August 18 - 24 TOP3 [POLITICS]
editorial 

Cancel Paralympics and schoolchildren-participation project

August 21, 2021

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The national and Tokyo metropolitan governments have indicated their intent to bring elementary and secondary school students to Paralympic venues to watch the Games starting on August 24. During the Olympics held under the COVID-19 state of emergency, the schoolchildren's game-watching project was cancelled in Tokyo. As the infection situation is becoming much more serious than at the time of the Olympics, the mobilization of school students to go and see the Paralympic Games will further increase the risk of spreading infections.

The national government, Tokyo, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on August 16 decided on going ahead with the mobilization of students to attend the Games while announcing a "without spectators" Paralympics due to a big jump in COVID-19 cases.

When the Olympics opened on July 23, the number of new cases in Tokyo was 1,359. Currently, the daily number is more than 5,000. While stay-home restrictions are being imposed on the general public, why is it that students can travel to watch the Games? The two governments have not made any convincing explanation to the people about this.

Some municipalities have indicated that they will refrain from participating in the students' game-watching project. It is irresponsible for the national government to leave the decision on participation up to municipalities, schools, and parents. The project should be abandoned.

According to the government plan, up to 270 doctors and nurses a day will be assigned to Paralympic venues during the Games, which will inevitably place more burdens on community hospitals dealing with COVID-19 patients. The government should cancel the Paralympics and instead should focus on the fight against COVID-19.

Past related article:
> Olympic Games in Tokyo areas will be held without spectators including schoolchildren [July 10, 2021]
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