Protesters chant “Go to hell, the Olympics” just before opening ceremony

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Hundreds of protesters marched in Tokyo on Friday towards the opening ceremony of the Olympics – chanting for organizers to “go to hell” for hosting the event despite the pandemic, videos show.

Just an hour before the Games started, a mass of people had gathered in Harajuku, Tokyo’s main shopping district, with police closing a main road as the marchers left, the Washington Post said.

“Go to hell, Olympics!” the group chanted as they walked towards the national stadium, where the public were barred from the opening ceremony due to COVID-19 fears.

“Go to hell, IOC,” the marchers also chanted, referring to the International Olympic Committee, according to the Washington Post video.

Protesters chanted and waved flags and placards accusing IOC and Tokyo 2020 officials of potentially spreading the coronavirus by allowing foreigners to enter the country for the global event, the outlet said.

Many wore white surgical masks and carried signs that read “Lives Over Olympics”.

: Olympia: Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium
Protesters organize a rally in front of the national stadium ahead of the opening ceremony.
Sebastian Gollnow / picture alliance
Protesters gather in front of the Tokyo National Stadium ahead of the start of the Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 23, 2021.
Protesters gather in front of the Tokyo National Stadium ahead of the start of the Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 23, 2021.
Shuji Kajiyama / AP
Protesters organize a rally in front of the national stadium ahead of the opening ceremony.
Police prevented the group from entering the Olympic stadium.
Shuji Kajiyama / AP

The chants were so loud they were audible inside the stadium when the music was cut for a moment of silence for those who had died from COVID, the Associated Press said.

“It’s amazing that the Olympics are going on in this pandemic situation,” protester Kumiko Sudo, 50, told the Washington Post, while holding a makeshift Olympic torch converted with anti-Olympic stickers.

There has also been widespread anger that the usual spectator audience is being kept away from events which are typically crowded with spectators from all over the world.

A general view inside the stadium as fireworks go off and performers dance during the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics.
Inside the stadium, fireworks go off and performers dance during the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics.
Dylan Martinez / Pool / Getty Images
Anti-Olympic protesters, right, rally in front of lines of police
Large numbers of people gathered in Harajuku, Tokyo’s main shopping district, to protest.
Kyodo news via AP
Anti-Olympic protesters hold placards at a rally near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Complex where the last Olympic Torch Relay took place on July 23, 2021.
Anti-Olympic protesters hold placards at a rally near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Complex where the last Olympic Torch Relay took place on July 23, 2021.
Kantaro Komiya / AP

Fewer than 1,000 VIP guests were invited to the event – but large crowds still gathered outside, hoping to get a glimpse of the ceremonies, the outlet noted.

Only a third of the country has received even a single dose of the vaccine, raising fears that the Games will turn into a big event. More than 100 people involved in the Olympics have already tested positive.

With post wires



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