Olympics 2020:
Polls show most in Japan oppose holding Olympics in 2021

A majority of Japanese people oppose holding the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics next year, favoring a further delay or outright cancellation of the massive event, new polling showed Tuesday.

Iran PressAsia: The new data shows public sentiment has shifted little since the summer, when surveys in Japan also found only a minority backing plans to hold the games next year, despite the imminent arrival of new vaccines. 

A poll released Tuesday by national broadcaster NHK found just 27% of respondents support holding the games next year, with 32% backing cancellation and 31% favoring a further postponement.

The remaining respondents said they were unsure or gave no answer.

Olympic organizers and Japanese officials have ruled out any further delay of the games, which are the first in history to be postponed during peacetime.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was postponed for the first time in their history. The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will now be held on 23 July 2021.

On September 7, 2013, the International Olympic Committee awarded the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020 to Tokyo, which was chosen over fellow Candidate Cities Istanbul and Madrid after two rounds of voting during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires.

Tokyo 2020 became the first Olympics ever postponed in peacetime earlier this year as the coronavirus wreaked havoc across the globe, claiming lives and forcing the cancelation of sporting and cultural events.

The Olympics have previously only been canceled completely during periods of World War - in 1916, 1940, and 1944 - but never suspended or postponed. 

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