While the Summer Olympics 2020 is already around the corner, Fukushima is still under question. (Image via Japan Today)

Fukushima evacuees unhappy with the Summer Olympics

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Sports & Culture
Events & Festivals
Mar 10, 2020
2205
While the 2020 Summer Olympics’ relay torch will begin on 26 March from Fukushima, not everyone in the region has the same euphoria. Dubbed as the “Recovery Olympics”, people of Fukushima said that they have other things to worry about than the Summer Olympics.

Head of the Hidanren Association, Hiromu Murata, also an evacuee from Fukushima, said that Fukushima is still suffering. Had 2011 never happened, Fukushima would have cheered for Japan as well, said Murata. Hidranren Association assisted all evacuees from the region.

When an M9 earthquake and tsunami hit the region, about 18,500 people left dead or missing, overwhelmed by the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. It was the worst nuclear crisis ever since Chernobyl. Despite the extensive decontamination program, tens of thousands are still living in exile from their homes.

The Japanese government has been lifting up the evacuation order progressively, starting from Futaba town. Futaba is added into the relay’s route by the request of the local governor.

As Japan is approaching the opening ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympics, a new problem popped out, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak over the land. They even scrapped the plan to involve 200 children in the ceremony. Moreover, the spectator of the relay may as well be limited.

Some Japanese nuclear activists said that Japan is not in the condition to host the august sports event. While for some, the 2020 Summer Olympics is a symbol of Japan’s recovery.

Source: https://bit.ly/39D3ukP

Sports , Event , Competition , Summer-Olympics , 2020 , Asia , Japan , Tokyo , Fukushima , Nuclear , 2011 , Earthquake , Tsunami