Tokyo Medical Organization calls for canceling Olympic Games

days After the Doctors SyndicateNow, it is the turn of a leading medical organization to make a statement against the holding of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for July 23. The Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association, which represents 6,000 primary care professionals, said hospitals in the Games’ host city are “overcrowded and lack nearly idle capacity” amid the outbreak of COVID-19 infection.

– Foto: AFP via Getty Images / Kazuhiro Nogi

We strongly urge the authorities to persuade the International Olympic Committee (the International Olympic Committee) that holding the Olympiad is difficult and obtain its decision to cancel the Games – the association said in an open letter on May 14 to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, published in your letter posted on Monday.

Japanese experts say the country is experiencing a fourth wave of Covid-19 cases, with numbers reaching 6,000 daily cases a few weeks ago. The government extended the state of emergency in Tokyo and eight other prefectures until at least May 31. The number of cases currently stands at 3,500, indicating a decrease. Vaccination is proceeding slowly in Japan, where 3% of the population has been vaccinated.

The Olympic Games, which were postponed last year due to the epidemic, are facing great resistance in Japan due to the increase in the number of infections. Nevertheless, the International Olympic Committee said it was optimistic about overturning public opinion about the Olympics’ success. The event is scheduled to take place between July 23 and August 8.