Tokyo 2020: Ipsos poll finds 78 per cent of Japanese against Olympics happening, with South Koreans even more opposed

Name: Woman opposing Tokyo Olympics arrested after shooting water pistol at torch bearer
Uploaded: 2021-07-14T05:26:06.000Z
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Globally, 57 per cent are against Tokyo 2020 going ahead though 62 per cent agree it is important chance for world to come together

Interest levels of 28 markets surveyed show India, South Africa and China the most looking forward to Games

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A pedestrian walks past the Olympic rings in Tokyo as the city counts down the final days to the Games. Photo: Kyodo

Jonathan White

Published: 1:26pm, 14 Jul 2021Updated: 10:35pm, 14 Jul 2021

Almost four out of five members of the Japanese public do not want the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to go ahead, according to a poll published by market researchers Ipsos Mori on Tuesday.

Their “Attitudes to the Olympics” global survey polled 19,510 adults in 28 countries, asking them a number of questions on the Games, which begin on July 23 after a 12-month delay.

Only South Koreans want to see the Games happen less than the Japanese, according to the poll, with 86 per cent against them going ahead, compared to 78 per cent in the host country.

Ipsos found that globally on average some 57 per cent disagreed with the Tokyo Olympics going ahead, when asked to agree or disagree with the statement: “The Olympics should go ahead in 2021, even if the Covid pandemic isn’t over yet.”

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Woman opposing Tokyo Olympics arrested after shooting water pistol at torch bearer

Despite that, 62 per cent agreed that “the Tokyo Olympic Games will be an important opportunity for the world to come together following the pandemic”.