2020 Olympics: Decathlon, High Jump, Glow-In-The-Dark Boxing…

So, Tokyo won the race to host the 2020 Olympic games. Nice.

“Would you like extra radiation with your sushi Sir?”

If the idea behind awarding Japan the games is to give them an economic boost then it’s highly likely the plan will fail. In the last few weeks alone there have been major issues with radiation leaks at Fukushima which lies just 178 miles up the coast from Tokyo.

Many commentators as well as scientists believe that radiation from Fukushima has already reached the West Coast of the United States and readings across Europe have risen since the disaster in March 2011. It’s widely believed that tens of thousands of deaths around the globe will be as a direct result of the disaster. (source)

The increased radioactivity of seafood including bluefin tuna swimming off the coast of California is well documented. (source)

It’s against this backdrop that the finest athletes in the world are being asked to take part in events that for many will mark the pinnacle of their career.

During his speech after Japan succeeded in bringing the Olympic games to Tokyo Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said:

“Let me assure you the situation is under control. It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo”

This is at odds with the admission from TEPCO (Tokyo Electric and Power Company) that they have no idea exactly how much radioactive water has seeped into the ground or run off into the ocean, and that they have no idea where tons of melted material is right now.

Japan has recently announced it is to incinerate over a million tons of contaminated material at incinerator plants stretching the length of the country. (source) Other radioactive material will be buried. Some radioactive particles will survive the incineration and the smoke produced by the burning will in itself will be hazardous to health.

The effects of radiation are wide ranging and varied and illness caused by exposure often does not manifest itself for a decade or more. Is this what we want to expose our finest athletes to?

The Japanese are irresponsible for pursuing the 2020 Olympics. They are using the event as nothing more than propaganda, hoping to show the world all is well at Fukushima. Raising a few billion Yen at the same time will be a bonus not to be sniffed at.