Protect legacy of The Games

The Olympics, a stoic symbol of unification and global co-operation, is facing the threat of being reduced to a commercial conduit amid a raging coronavirus pandemic.

The Tokyo Olympics, running a year late, is set to be held despite warning from medical experts that the Olympics might turn into a mass spreader.

Japan’s top medical advisor too has criticised the timing of hosting Olympics at a time when only 5% of Japan’s citizens have been vaccinated.

Amidst this unpopular wave, it goes against the spirit of The Games and despite being a heart-tugging draw, poses the risk of defeating the purpose of conducting the Olympics.

Olympics is also about ambience, atmosphere, spectator. In this edition, there won’t be spectators from other countries. They are also yet to  take a call on domestic spectators stadiums will be half-filled.

Although restrictions in Olympics village will be very strict and every athlete and official is required to follow the strict protocols, it is unfair to expect athletes to perform to the best of their abilities in these circumstances.

Athletes and officials going from India and 10 more countries, including UK, have been asked to take three-day quarantine as per new rules. It will lead to problems in training, and the final phase of preparation, which is extremely important going into a big event like Olympics..

So, plenty of confusion still remains as Tokyo races towards the finish line.

The Tokyo 2020 organisers may have wilted under pressure from commercial partners to go ahead and send a message to the world that recovery from the pandemic is on course.

But the stark reality is that holding a global event of this magnitude is akin to harakiri.