- Title: Anti- Olympic protesters demonstrate outside of IOC chief’s welcome party
- Date: 18th July 2021
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 18, 2021) (REUTERS) PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): "CANCEL THE OLYMPICS" PROTESTERS CHANTING AND CROSS ROAD PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD READING (Japanese): "CANCEL THE OLYMPICS! CANCEL!" PROTESTERS ARRIVING NEAR AKASAKA PALACE WHERE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT IOC PRESIDENT THOMAS BACH WILL ATTEND A WELCOME BANQUET PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English and Japanese): "CANCEL THE OLYMPICS! GET OUT OF JAPAN, YOU PESTILENCE!", PROTESTERS CHANTING AND ARRIVING POLICE STANDING IN ROW AS PROTESTERS CHANT PROTESTER CHANTING OVER MEGAPHONE IN FRONT OF POLICE OFFICERS PROTESTER CHANTING AND HOLDING A PLACARD FEATURING BACH'S FACE, READING (English): "GO HOME BARON VON RIPPER-OFF, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME" PROTESTER BANGING POT WITH UTENSIL (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 62-YEAR-OLD RETIREE AND PROTESTER, MR. SHIGAMI, SAYING: "It is against (basic) ethics to hold such a festive event when the world is suffering so much. I think it's wrong to hold the Olympics during this period, if we really respect human lives and put the people's livelihoods as priority." PROTESTER SPEAKING INTO MEGAPHONE IN FRONT OF POLICE PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (Japanese): "CANCEL!" PROTESTER YELLING INTO MEGAPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PROTESTER, IKA, SAYING: "If the government really wants to hold the Olympics then they should explain the reason to us clearly and tell us what's good about it. But without doing so, they just let it happen. That's why I'm not convinced and I won't allow the Games to take place in such a situation. I want it to be stopped right away." PROTESTER HOLDING BANNER READING (English): "OLYMPICS KILL THE POOR" PROTESTER CHANTING POLICE STANDING IN FRONT OF AKASAK PALACE
- Embargoed: 1st August 2021 13:42
- Keywords: IOC Japan Olympics Thomas Bach Tokyo Tokyo 2020 protest
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001EMD8GUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Around 20 protesters calling for the cancellation of the Olympics demonstrated outside a venue where International Olympics President Thomas Bach attended a welcome banquet on Sunday (July 18).
The protesters shouted slogans and carried banners, many of them reading "cancel the Olympics" and "go home Bach".
Local media reported that there would be 40 guests at the banquet, with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in attendance. Bach arrived in Japan earlier this month to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics which will open on Friday July 23.
Polls show many Japanese oppose holding the Games with the influx of overseas visitors it entails.
Several coronavirus cases have been detected in the Olympic athletes' village. Infection rates are climbing among the general population of the capital, topping 1,000 new cases for four consecutive days.
(Production: Joseph Campbell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None