Olympics ‘should not happen now’

Professor Michael Baker says the Olympics should be cancelled and the New Zealand Olympic Committee and the Government should be taking a stand against it. By Lee Kenny and

Michael Baker – the winner of the Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize – says the Government and New Zealand Olympic Committee have a moral duty to say Tokyo Games should not go ahead and it is “absolutely absurd” for the world to gather during a global pandemic.

As Kiwi athletes prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, epidemiologist Michael Baker is calling on the Government to take a ‘‘moral stance’’ against the event as the Japanese city clocks hundreds of Covid cases daily amid a state of national emergency.

Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) had made its decision to send New Zealand athletes, and the Government had supported them to make their travel as safe as possible, while the NZOC says Tokyo’s outbreaks are ‘‘significantly less severe’’ than Europe and the Americas.

Speaking yesterday, Professor Baker said the issue was a moral one, and that the event went against all advice to avoid travel and mass gatherings.

‘‘We should recognise what is at stake here and I would really like to see the New Zealand Government take a firm stance on this,’’ he said. ‘‘The New Zealand Olympic Committee should be saying they are not going to have a bar of it. Someone needs to say the obvious – that it should not happen now.’’

Although he’d sympathise with athletes if the Games were postponed or cancelled, holding them was ‘‘the opposite of what we should be doing’’.

High-income countries could ensure a high degree of safety for athletes, he said, ‘‘but the equity, ethics and the symbolism of doing it are atrocious. For athletes from low-income countries to attend, particularly if they are vaccinated, that will mean taking vaccines away from vulnerable populations.’’

A New Zealand contingent of about 450 will be heading to Tokyo in July to join 15,000 international Olympic and Paralympic athletes from more than 200 countries. New Zealand’s athletes were granted early exemptions for vaccinations and MIQ spots have been reserved for their return. The NZOC provides team members’ insurance.

Participants must adhere to their activity plan, minimise contact with other athletes, keep to 1-metre distancing, eat at places with Covid-19 safety measures and travel in designated Olympics vehicles. International spectators are barred. As well as the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) measures, the NZOC said it had invested in high-grade masks, and would have a team bubble system.

Professor Baker said regardless, it was ‘‘absolutely absurd’’ the event would go ahead, and that it was contrary to the Olympic spirit.

‘‘The Olympics are meant to celebrate some sense of global unity and some sense of fair play. There’s no sense of fair play – low-income countries have been ravaged by the pandemic. Has the New Zealand Olympic Committee lost its moral compass entirely? How can they possibly countenance supporting holding the Olympics in these circumstances? It is totally the wrong thing to do ... I can see no justification whatsoever.’’

The IOC has said the Games cannot be postponed again – they were supposed to go ahead in 2020. On Friday Tokyo clocked 698 new Covid-19 cases, down from more than 1000 the day before. Japan has administered about 2.5 million vaccine doses (its population is more than 126 million). Just over a week ago it declared its third state of emergency, in Tokyo and Osaka, after a fourth wave of the virus.

This week golfing star Lydia Ko said she believed the IOC was making the right decisions. ‘‘I know that if health and safety was going to be in jeopardy, I’m sure they won’t follow through with it,’’ while US swimmer Michael Phelps said he ‘‘just (can’t) see how it can happen’’.

Meanwhile, New Zealand cricketers have been donning face coverings and body-length PPE suits as they play in the Indian Premier League in India. New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills has said the players were ‘‘undoubtedly anxious’’ but safe. They were in bubbles, in locked-down hotels, and had to wear PPE when travelling between cities.

The NZOC said no athletes had indicated they were intending to withdraw from the Games, and said it was looking forward to a ‘‘vastly different Olympic experience’’. It had added specialist roles to its team and it was consulting with science and health experts.

‘‘Comprehensive countermeasures are in place and constantly being updated and reviewed. Importantly, New Zealand team members will be able to be vaccinated prior to the Olympic Games ... we’ll be putting a very clear emphasis on the importance of protecting the New Zealand team environment,’’ said NZOC chief executive Kereyn Smith.

‘‘It’s important to remember the Olympic Games are significant for New Zealand and our athletes want the opportunity to add to New Zealand’s Olympic legacy.’’

Hipkins said NZOC had made the decision for its athletes to attend the Olympics and emphasised athletes and support crew had been provided protection by the Government through vaccines and MIQ spots. The NZOC had sought advice from the Ministry of Health.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson wasn’t available for interview. His press secretary said: ‘‘It’s not the minister’s decision who goes to the games.’’

‘‘The New Zealand Olympic Committee should be saying they are not going to have a bar of it. Someone needs to say the obvious – that it should not happen now.’’ Michael Baker