Olympic Forgetfulness | The Journal of Montreal

Counting started.

In 60 days, all eyes on the planet will be on Tokyo.

One year later the 2020 Olympics opening will be described as a historic celebration to turn the page on the epidemic.

In the face of COVID-19 there is plenty of media on Earth in parallel between the resilience of humanity and these extraordinary athletes.

The fictional story is touching, even exciting.

Yet she makes more of everything that is wrong in the Olympic movement.

Against all inequality

Tokyo is in a state of emergency.

The Tokyo Medical Association, which has 6,000 members, has formally requested the cancellation of games for fear of an increase in cases and deaths or a collapse of the health system.

Still, there is no question of going back.

The International Olympic Committee says the sport is “safe and healthy.”

We guarantee 10,000 health professionals in the reinforcement. The epidemic seems secondary as these professionals have already been out for a year and a half.

10,000 athletes will be tested every day.

They make us believe that celebrating the three Olympic values ​​of respect, excellence and friendship.

Wouldn’t friendship be a good example if tens of thousands of tests and medical resources needed to keep games safe were diverted to India or any developing country that needs equipment?

Should respect not at least be the will of the Japanese, of whom 60% to 80% are against hosting the Olympics?

Doesn’t Excellence mean listening to the science that warns against big meetings, especially when a very small number of Japanese are fully vaccinated?

But no, these days Olympic movement leaders think about their brand and the billions associated with it.

They haven’t demonstrated it yet.