Speaking in general terms, Japan is a country that is always on top of it. Always ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and logistics and infrastructure and stuff like that.

So it’s somewhat perplexing that the COVID situation over there is getting out of whack, with a recent surge in cases resulting in a state of emergency that is going to keep spectators away from the Olympics.

From the BBC:

The Olympic Games in Japan are to be held without spectators due to rising cases of coronavirus.

Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa made the announcement following discussions with officials and organisers on Thursday evening.

A state of emergency in Tokyo will run throughout the Games, to combat coronavirus.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters it would run from 12 July and remain in place until 22 August.

And here’s the thing –

It’s a lot easier to manage COVID via local rules and travel restrictions and whatnot. Tokyo has to deal with athletes from all over the world coming to the city. Their countries have different COVID guidelines. There are COVID variants making the rounds. It all results in an organizational and tracking nightmare. A behemoth of a task.

As it stands, we’re about two weeks from the July 23rd opening ceremony. There’s been a widespread call to just cancel the games, OUTRIGHT! (as Mikey Miss would say). But it seems like we’re way too close, right? Surely they aren’t gonna axe the games when we’re this close.

Regardless, it’ll be a bummer with no fans out there. We all watched spectator-less games over here for the better part of a year, and it stunk.