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Showing posts with the label Makoto Yokohari

An Endless Heat Wave - Will the Olympics Really Be OK?

an editorial by Japanese state media NHK's Akito Iga and Daichi Takahashi It's no exaggeration to say that the endless string of record-breaking hot days hitting Japan has reached disaster proportions. In the last week 65 people died and 22,647 were taken to the hospital with symptoms of heat stroke. Amid these record-breaking conditions it's now two years to the day to the opening of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and the competition schedule has been officially announced. The Internet is overflowing with voices asking, "Is it really OK to hold the Olympics in the middle of a season like this?" The Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee has announced the competition schedule for the Games, to take place from July 24 to August 9 two years from now. One noticeable feature is that "due to the harsh summer heat of Tokyo," some outdoor events will start earlier than originally planned. For example, the marathons have been bumped up from a 7:30 a.m. start ...