TOKYO: Over 70 percent of people in Japan think that this summer’s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics should be canceled or postponed again, a think tank survey showed Saturday.

The survey by the Japan Press Research Institute showed that 37.9 percent of respondents said the Tokyo Games should be canceled while 34 pct said the events should be postponed again.

The proportion of respondents who said the events should take place as scheduled stood at 26.1 percent. The Tokyo Games have been postponed by one year from summer 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Of those who opposed holding the games this summer, 83.4 percent said the events would bring many people from across the world, leading to a further spread of the virus, while 64.3 percent said there is no prospect of the pandemic being contained.

Of those who favored holding the games as scheduled, 67.3 percent said that athletes have been preparing for the events and 49.3 percent said people would be encouraged by athletes’ performances and excitement caused by the games.

The poll showed that 44.8 percent said that if the games are canceled or postponed again, preparations made so far, including construction of game venues, would end up being a waste of resources.

The poll was conducted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 17, collecting answers from some 3,000 people aged 18 or older.

JIJI Press