The Tokyo games should be reconsidered, say experts

An Olympic torch relay runner carrying the torch in Osaka, western Japan, in April. The Tokyo Olympic games is scheduled to kick off on July 23 this year. — AP

WITH less than 100 days until the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games – and Japan’s declaration of “short and powerful” states of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures on Friday – serious questions are raised about the country’s ability to manage the coming games safely.

Plans to hold the games this summer must be reconsidered as a matter of urgency, argue experts in global healthcare content provider The BMJ’s journal.