‘With or Without COVID': International Perceptions of the Tokyo Olympics, its Postponement, and its Rising Costs

The Tokyo Olympics are now the most expensive Olympic Games to ever take place. Or should that be “to not take place”? Originally scheduled to be held in the summer of 2020, like much of the sports calendar, the Games were postponed due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Now, delayed until Summer 2021, the costs for the Games continue to rise and will do so until the end of the competition. COVID has seen many tournaments cancelled, and there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Tokyo Olympics. However, on 7 September 2020, IOC Vice President John Coates said that the Games would go ahead “with or without COVID.” This chapter will examine the problems associated with the Games, those that existed pre-COVID and issues arising directly or indirectly from the pandemic. It will look at the media reporting of these issues internationally and the narratives about the Games within the COVID context. Is the media confident that Japan will be able to pull off an event that will signal recovery from a global pandemic? Or is it just blind, and expensive, optimism?