Aussie team responds to Tokyo’s ‘aggressive’ hostilities towards Olympics

Surveys reveal eight in 10 Japanese people are opposed to holding the games as rising Covid-19 cases plunge the country into its fourth State of Emergency.

Australia’s Olympic chief has dismissed concerns about rising hostilities against athletes in Tokyo, insisting the Japanese had warmly welcomed the Aussie squad.

Recent surveys reveal eight in 10 Japanese people are opposed to holding the games as rising Covid-19 cases plunge the country into its fourth State of Emergency.

Protesters have followed International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach across the country and public demonstrations have repeatedly called for the Games to be cancelled.

An anti-Olympic activist holds up a placard with a slogan reading "No Olympics" during a march to the offices of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Bach, in an extraordinary statement on Saturday, said the mood in Japan for the Olympics was “sceptical” and “aggressive”.

He appealed to the Japanese to welcome the athletes for the competition and insisted arriving nations were as committed to ensuring the Games were “safe and secure” in the face of rising Covid cases.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman dismissed Bach‘s comments and said his squad had not experienced the hostilities directed at the IOC.

AOC Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said athletes had been warmly welcomed to Tokyo despite public sentiment opposing the Olympic Games. Picture: Cameron Tandy

“We live inside Olympic Village and inside a small bubble but at every touchpoint we’ve been through – arriving at the airport, being transported to the village … we’ve had a fantastic welcome from the Japanese people and I expect that will continue to be the athletes and the officials experience throughout these games,” he said.

Tensions are mounting between the IOC and the Japanese Government as the lack of spectators at Games events creates an empty atmosphere for athletes.

In contrast, domestic basketball and baseball matches continue to be held in Tokyo with spectators and even cheerleaders.

It is in contrast to the empty Games’ venues awaiting athletes.

Chesterman said the local competitions were significantly different to the Olympic Games.

“We have to and we do fully respect the decisions of the Japanese health authorities and the Japanese Government to do what they think is necessary to ensure the safety of their people and also help to ensure the safety of the participants involved,” he said.