(ATR) A smartphone app being developed to help keep track of Tokyo 2020's foreign visitors during the pandemic has a few side effects of its own.
According to Kyodo News, the biggest concern is the cost of $69 million, which was approved in January well ahead of a final decision on whether spectators would be allowed into the country for the Games.
The current plan calls for visitors to install the app on their smartphones as part of the process that will exempt them from serving a 14-day quarantine when they arrive in Japan. But not everyone will enter the country with a smartphone.
There are other issues that need to be addressed as well. Clickhereto read theKyodo Newsarticle in its entirety.
Another Call for Beijing Boycott
For the second straight week, a U.S. Representative calls for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
John Katko, a Republican from New York, sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, in which he cited suspected human rights violations against the Muslim minority Uighurs by the Chinese government as a reason for boycotting the Games.
Click here to read the ABC News report.
Katko’s letter follows last week’s resolution introduced by Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida urging a boycott of Beijing 2022 by the United States if the Games are not moved out of China.
Six U.S. Senators led by Rick Scott, also of Florida, earlier this month introduced a resolution calling for the IOC to move the Olympics and rebid it to another country unless human rights abuses are addressed. But they are not calling for a boycott.
The Case Against a Boycott
Olympic historian David Wallechinsky tells Canada’s CTV Newsthat boycotting the Olympics is a "non-starter".
Appearing on CTV’s Your Morning Monday program, Wallechinsky said the IOC and the sponsors are committed to the Games in Beijing. He also said that previous efforts, such as the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, failed to change anything.
Click here to read the CTV News article.
Tokyo 2020 Athletes High on Vaccination List
India’s Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced Tokyo-bound athletes will receive high priority on the vaccination list.
Rijuju shared exclusively with the Times of India thatathletes will receive the vaccination once the first phase of vaccinations for residents have been completed.
Click here to read Rijiju’s interview in its entirety.
Compiled by Greer Wilson and Gerard Farek
For general comments or questions,click here.
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