[pmachinery]

It's unbelievable to me it hasn't already been postponed. I expected it weeks ago, along with the postponement of Euro 2020.

Nobody in their right mind should even be remotely considering holding a major global event this year.

[chewz]

For Japan PM Abe Olympic Games 2020 is the point of honor - he does not care if people will die. That's why Japan puts obstacles to coronavirus testing.

It is a long and convoluted story. 1964 Tokyo Olympics - organized by Abe's grandfather - then Japan PM (yes, Japan is democracy but political establishment is hereditary) - are seen as a start of Japan's economic miracle.

https://www.ft.com/content/d6142984-194b-11e3-83b9-00144feab...

https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/09/05/the-1964-toky...

[mikekchar]

Although I am far from an Abe fan, I honestly don't think this is it. I think what he is doing is casting doubt on whether or not the Olympics will go ahead. This will slow down the rate at which cancellations in hotel accommodations will happen. I think the idea is probably to cushion the shock to the economy. He'll probably cast doubt as long as he feasibly can and then announce a postponement.

[tanilama]

Same

It is already a fantasy when the virus outbreak outside China like late Feb.