TOKYO – Three-time Olympic champion gymnast Kohei Uchimura wants the postponed Tokyo Olympics to happen next year.
But he's also talked openly about the skepticism in Japan where enthusiasm is muted by health risks, billions of dollars in taxpayer bills, and questions why the Games are a priority amid a pandemic.Polls over the last several months show Japanese — and Japanese companies — are divided about holding the Games, or doubtful they should be held at all.“Unfortunately, 80% of the Japanese don’t believe that the Tokyo Olympics can take place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Uchimura said after a one-day exhibition gymnastics meet last weekend.“I would like people to change their minds from: We can’t hold the Olympics to — how.