In Japan, a corruption scandal linked to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics continues to grow. The organizer is accused of having received money from companies in exchange for their designation as the official sponsor of the event.
At a time when public opinion is questioning Paris’s ability to properly manage the 2024 Olympic Games, one example should not be followed: that of the 2021 Tokyo Games. Since the closing ceremony, they have switched from the sports column to the legal chronicle because they are splattered by a double scandal: both large-scale corruption and patronage. The case made the front page of Japanese television newspapers all day long. The organizer is accused of having received hundreds of millions of yen in bribes from companies in exchange for their designation as the official sponsor of the event.
“It’s really a double jeopardy”
These cascading revelations obviously anger the Japanese. “The athletes gave their all for these Games, the image of which is forever stained by this scandal. It’s terrible!”, Explains an angry Japanese woman at the microphone of Europe 1. “We are discovering all this too well now. At the time, nobody saw anything, unless everyone had their eyes closed”, details another citizen. “It’s really the double penalty. Unscrupulous people filled their pockets during these Games which, in addition, cost us the eyes of the head”, adds another.
Embarrassment on the side of the IOC
The bill is around 13 billion euros for the Tokyo Olympics. These are the most expensive Olympics in Olympic history. Japanese taxpayers have not finished paying them since most of the sports facilities built for the Games show a colossal operating deficit. These structures are huge and expensive to rent. They therefore do not interest the organizers of sporting events, especially since the health restrictions linked to Covid-19.
The IOC, International Olympic Committee, is very embarrassed by this double scandal, both judicial and budgetary.
Japan was the favorite for the organization of the 2030 Winter Games. Except that the Japanese are no longer in demand and no longer want to hear about the Olympics. The IOC has postponed the designation of the host city of the 2030 Games in the hope that the scandal over the Tokyo Olympics will settle down. In the meantime, many Olympic champions refuse to participate in promotional campaigns for this Japanese candidacy for 2023. They no longer want their name or their images to be associated with this unpopular file.
Source: Europe1
I have been working as a journalist for over 10 years. In that time, I have covered the news from all corners of the world, and written about everything from politics to business.I’m now a full-time author, and my work can be found at Global happenings. My aim is to bring you up-to-date news and views on global affairs, in a format that is easy to read and understand.
