Tokyo Olympic Concerns

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics set to commence next Friday, July 23, there are many concerns regarding the safety of the event. While the coronavirus might be the main issue that comes to mind when pondering possible problems, there is another glaringly obvious complication: natural disasters. The world is well accustomed to the knowledge of Japan being a hotspot for such circumstances, with news of typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis being all too common. The spectators, athletes, and staff all raised concern over the potential devastation if any disaster does indeed strike during the legendary summer games.

Situated upon the “Ring of Fire,” Japan is a site of severe seismic activity in the Pacific Ocean. This circumstance is what makes Japan prone to earthquakes. This year alone, Japan experienced seven earthquakes with a magnitude greater than or equal to six. A 7.3 magnitude quake occurred in February; a tremor in March sparked concerns over a possible tsunami forming in its wake. Earthquake simulations span Tokyo, teaching tourists how to handle the ordeal.

Officials have installed warning alarms that announce earthquake threats in Japanese and English in preparation for the many foreign spectators of the event. Japan also frequently experiences typhoons from May to October, peaking in August and September. Directly before is when the Olympic games begin, and the end of the series will conclude in August as the typhoon season reaches its height. Officials claim that they have adequately prepared for the possibility of a disaster as a tourist-filled Olympics could result in considerably greater desolation than that caused by the 2011 Japanese Tsunami, which killed more than 18,000 people.

Despite preparations and precautions, natural disasters may still occur, and they often do cause widespread destruction and, unfortunately, death. These necessitate ordinary people to help rebuild communities, and many brave individuals take such action through volunteer organizations. One organization, Direct Relief, was highly involved in the aftermath of the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, a crisis partially responsible for the hysteria regarding this year’s Olympic games. Many more disasters, despite being less significant, still occur and cause damages. Organizations like Direct Relief respond to aid any “poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential medical resources needed for their care.” Donating opportunities to help fund their efforts are available in the link below.

Website Link: https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-2011/