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TOKYO (Reuters) -
An overwhelming majority of Japanese said they were "interested
in the Olympics", although 58% said they did not want them to be
held this year because of fears over COVID-19, a Yomiuri daily
poll showed on Wednesday.
In the survey, conducted between Jan. 18 and Feb. 25, when much
of the country remained in a coronavirus state of emergency, 30%
of the respondents said they were "very interested" in the
Summer Games and 40% said they were "somewhat interested", for a
combined 70%.
But concerns over the impact on coronavirus infections kept most
opposed to holding the event this year, although the 58% in
opposition is about 20 percentage points lower than earlier
opinion polls.
If the Games were to go ahead as scheduled, 91% of respondents
said spectators should be kept to a minimum or not allowed at
all, the Yomiuri poll showed.
The Tokyo Olympic Games were postponed last year because of the
pandemic and rescheduled to take place this year from July 23.
A survey by global consultancy Kekst CNC published on Wednesday
showed similar rates of majority opposition in Japan, at 56%, as
well as in Britain and Germany, at 55% and 52% respectively.
In France and Sweden, more people opposed than approved, while
in the United States, respondents were split at one-third
between those who agreed and disagreed that the Games should go
ahead, according to the survey.
While coronavirus infection numbers are low in Japan compared
with the United States and many European countries, the greater
Tokyo metropolitan area remains in a state of emergency, with
restrictions in place for spectator numbers for big sporting and
cultural events, as well as closing times for bars and
restaurants. The country remains closed to non-resident
foreigners.
A Reuters poll published last month showed nearly two-thirds of
Japanese companies also oppose holding the Games as planned,
swinging from the previous survey showing most in favour.
Japan has so far confirmed 431,250 coronavirus cases and 7,931
deaths as of Monday.
(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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