Portrait of Taro Aso
Politician · concept
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Taro Aso on Olympics

Conditional supporter (strong)

TL;DR

Taro Aso believes the Olympics are historically 'cursed' but financially committed to hosting if conditions allow.

Key Points

  • He called the Tokyo 2020 Games the "cursed Olympics," citing a supposed 40-year cycle of world events blighting the Games.

  • As Prime Minister in 2009, he guaranteed that the Japanese Government would underwrite the cost if Tokyo hosted the 2016 Games.

  • He stated in March 2020 that the Games would be pointless if other countries were unable to send their athletes due to global issues.

Summary

Taro Aso's position on the Olympics, particularly concerning the Tokyo 2020 Games, has been characterized by a blend of historical fatalism and governmental financial commitment. He asserted that the Games appeared to be blighted by world events every 40 years, calling them the "cursed Olympics, and that's a fact." This historical context was offered during parliamentary committee discussions amid the rising concern over the coronavirus pandemic. However, he also stated that holding the Games would “not make sense” if other countries could not send their athletes, emphasizing that the decision was not solely up to Japan.

Earlier in his career, when he was Prime Minister, Aso was a strong advocate for hosting the Games, personally guaranteeing that the Japanese Government would underwrite the cost should Tokyo be chosen for the 2016 Olympics. At that time, he highlighted Tokyo’s existing infrastructure and pledged that whatever needed to be financed would be financed, framing the Games as the world's biggest and most prestigious event. This dual perspective shows a politician prepared to back the Games financially and logistically, while simultaneously acknowledging a perceived recurring pattern of misfortune associated with the event.

Key Quotes

“It's a problem that's happened every 40 years – it's the cursed Olympics, and that's a fact,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Taro Aso expressed a mixed view on the Tokyo 2020 Games, famously calling them the "cursed Olympics" due to recurring global issues every 40 years. He also maintained that holding the event would not be logical if countries could not send athletes.

Yes, when he was Prime Minister, Taro Aso strongly supported Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Olympics. He personally guaranteed that the government would underwrite the costs associated with hosting the Games.

The politician stated it was a "fact" that the Olympics are cursed, referencing historical cancellations or boycotts that occurred roughly every 40 years. He mentioned the 1940 cancellation and the 1980 Moscow boycott as examples.