Anti-Olympics Protest Held in Tokyo as COVID Cases Surge

Anti-Olympics protesters gathered in Tokyo, Japan, on July 21, to demonstrate against this year’s Olympic games, which are due to officially start on Friday.

Footage shared by @hangorinnokai shows a crowd outside the Okura Hotel, where members of the International Olympic Committee are reportedly staying. The protesters can be heard shouting “no Olympics Tokyo”, “abolish the Olympics”, and “get out IOC.”

The protests came amid a surge of COVID-19 cases during the city’s fourth state of emergency. According to Tokyo health authorities 1,832 new cases were reported in the city on July 21, while more than 70 people accredited for the Tokyo Olympics have also tested positive.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged people to enjoy the games from home due to the “high risk of rapid spread of infection.” Credit: @hangorinnokai via Storyful