64% Of Para Sports Groups Worry About Tokyo Games
An NHK survey has shown that over 60 percent of para sports organizations in Japan have concerns about the Tokyo Paralympics, which is scheduled to start in six months.
Twenty-five such organizations responded to a survey conducted by NHK earlier this month.
Those who said they feel anxious or slightly anxious about the Games scheduled in August and September came to 64 percent.
The reason given by most of them was the coronavirus pandemic. Some expressed concern that infections could spread because many people will gather. Others said athletes and officials will need to focus on both the competition and anti-virus measures, and that this would cause great stress.
Many organizations also said they are worried about divided public opinion on holding the Games. One of them said it is concerned about whether people will be happy to see athletes win medals, and the possibility of negative comments toward athletes.
Asked what is needed in order to hold the event this year, 80 percent said a decline in the number of infections in Japan. Seventy-six percent said anti-virus steps including vaccinations, and 68 percent said public support and empathy for athletes.