Is it correct that no family members were going to be allowed at the events in the first place anyway? I’m assuming so since I think I read that originally (before the recent announcement) there were to be no spectators from outside of Japan.
I still think it’s such a disappointment for the athletes to compete in empty venues.
I agree. It’s awful. I sometimes wonder why the IOC didn’t delay this until 2022. The cynic in me says it’s money-related.
However, it’s the athletes who have sacrificed so much, and they’ve already waited a year. Waiting another year would be very difficult and pulling the plug on the Olympics outright would be heartbreaking.
While this is so far from ideal, the alternatives are even worse. Not having family there is terrible, but it is the only thing to do since foreign spectator ban and now that the state of emergency has been imposed. Hopefully, the individual national Olympic committees will have some kind of live streaming video for families to watch for those events that won’t be broadcast.
And, oh yeah…the IOC is still going to rake in zillions of dollars for the broadcast rights and sponsorships, so I remain cynical that money is, in part, the motivation to continue under these circumstances.
On edit: here’s an NYT article before the total spectator ban that numerically illustrates all the reasons why the Olympics essentially had to occur: Why Are the Tokyo Olympics Still Happening? - The New York Times
Another year of delays would do a huge injustice to those athletes who had a final chance to compete… I highly doubt these Games will be profitable, and the virus might still be here in 2022.
The issue with 2022 is that the winter Olympics are in 2022. Also, that would mean the next summer Olympics is only 2 years away. It would also be hard on the athletes to postpone for another year. What really doesn’t make sense to me is why Japan is so far behind on vaccinations. I have not read much about why that is.
For Japan, having the games, even with no spectators, is essential. The amount of money they will lose without spectators is big, but cancellation of the games would be huge. I am glad the Olympics will happen. Something to look forward to!
Until 1994, both the Summer and Winter Olympics were in the same year.
Profitable to what entity? The IOC? or the Japanese Olympic Committee. AFAIK, those are two separate entities with separate financials.
I have a friend whose sister is living in Japan, and her sister’s impression is that because Japan did so well at keeping covid cases down at the beginning, they felt they had it all under control. So they dropped the ball on ordering vaccines for their residents, and that’s why they’re so far behind now.
Highly doubt any of the big players involved will be in the black, including the IOC.
Check out the NYT article I posted as to what the IOC is raking in for broadcast rights alone. From what I understand, ticket sales are just a bonus profit to the IOC. The JOC and Tokyo took all the risk.
I actually haven’t reviewed the Host City contract for this Olympics, but here it is: https://gtimg.tokyo2020.org/image/upload/production/rtd40rja1u5m4p7oifej.pdf . That would give an indication of how much liability the IOC has for empty stadiums, no tickets sold etc.
Hmmm… and I thought the IOC was supposed to be a non-profit organization. Guess they are lying through their teeth? Time to sue them. 
Sure, it is not all roses and rainbows when it comes to the IOC, but I am very skeptical that these games will be profitable to anyone, just look at the last Super Bowl which was a $$ losing event. Not going to go down this rabbit hole any further.
If you want to start a thread about whether the Olympic Games should be abolished for good, please do. This thread is meant to discuss the current games and the must see events and to celebrate the athletes.
You’re the one who insists on being correct on the no-profit issue without any basis. I’ve provided some links for those who want to wonder why the Olympics weren’t canceled outright this year.
I have no idea where you got the rest of your post, especially this one:
Your statements about the IOC’s being a non-profit, lying through their teeth, and suing them are also nowhere to be found in any of my posts.
A key part of this thread implicitly assumes that the Tokyo Olympics would go on so that one could actually watch the games live or via broadcast. If it had been canceled, no one would be discussing that. The information I provided goes right to the heart of whether the Olympics would be canceled. And for very clear financial reasons, it can’t “barring Armageddon” as one IOC member put it. That decision was still a possibility, but it is highly unlikely for the reasons stated.
I feel the same way! I want to see other winners from other countries too! That’s why I watch!
@MADad, @Tigerwife92, @BunsenBurner Same here! I’ll have to show this to my H who thinks he’s the only one who doesn’t like the human interest stories. I think one or two is ok, but not too many and not ones that go on and on!
Might I remind members of the forum rules: “Our forum is expected to be a friendly and welcoming place, and one in which members can post without their motives, intelligence, or other personal characteristics being questioned by others."
and
“College Confidential forums exist to discuss college admission and other topics of interest. It is not a place for contentious debate. If you find yourself repeating talking points, it might be time to step away and do something else… If a thread starts to get heated, it might be closed or heavily moderated.”
Profit schmofit, who cares. 
The NBA operated their playoffs last year in a bubble, so the Olympics can operate without spectators at most events. I think after a year and half in a pandemic, we’ll all adjust, including the athletes.
Last night on the news, they mentioned that some outdoor events, like the marathon, may have fans along the route.
Hmmm…(USA men’s basketball)
A couple things there with that b-ball game.
One, Nigeria has an NBA associate head coach, Mike Brown of the Golden State Warriors, and a good one, and they also have NBA players on their team. Two, several (3, I think) Team USA players are still playing in the NBA Finals.
And Nigeria made 20 3-pointers in a 40 minute game. That’s pretty hard to do on a regular basis.
Thanks for that. When I saw Kevin Durant was on the USA team, it surprised me that they lost. But it’s still early days, and, as you say, it’s probably not the complete USA team right now.
Also, lots of NBA stars are missing the Olympics like LeBron, Curry, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Jokic (NBA MVP), etc.
That doesn’t make me feel good!
Until now, I hadn’t bothered to check the roster for USA men’s basketball. Here it is: United States men's national basketball team - Wikipedia
I have to correct the above statement by me.
I was thinking about what I wrote and putting Jokic on that list is obviously wrong. Had he wanted to play in the Olympics, which he didn’t, he would have played for Serbia, not the USA. My apologies.
In any case, I don’t think the USA sent their best men’s bball team. They sent their “less than the best” team. Though they only had 4 days of practice, I believe, before that game.