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Should the Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 4 May 2021, 10:05AM
(Photo / AP)
(Photo / AP)

Should the Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 4 May 2021, 10:05AM

Is the decision to have the Olympic Games and for athletes to attend actually a moral decision - and does the rest of the world care about the argument? 

Otago professor Michael Baker has stirred things up by suggesting the Tokyo Games should be called off and says our government should take a moral stance and say we won't be sending athletes over to japan.

He says it sends the wrong message when so many countries are still battling to contain Covid.

Former UK Olympian and athletic commentator Martin Gillingham told Mike Hosking that the cost of the Olympics for Japan is US$26 billion - so it's in their interest it goes ahead.

He says that the UK is not focused on the debate as New Zealand is.

"One thing that is getting a lot of traction at the moment is the challenges India is facing, so we're well aware of the challenges at one extreme." 

Gillingham says that the UK is debating other sports games going ahead, so the debate will likely focus on Japan soon.

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