Public opinion
FILE - International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach and Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games make the sign of a heart with their hands during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Olympics survived the COVID-19 postponement, soaring expenses and some public opposition. A year later, the costs and benefits are as difficult to untangle as the Games were to pull off. (Dan Mullen/Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo Olympic aftermath still being untangled a year later

By Stephen Wade Jul. 21, 2022 01:16 AM EDT

FILE - A volunteer walks past the Olympic rings ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo on July 22, 2021. Japan's northern city of Sapporo on Monday, June 6, 2022, rejected holding a referendum to give voters a choice over bidding for the 2030 Winter Olympics. The city's assembly, controlled by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, which is also in charge of the national government, turned down having a public vote. Its meeting was streamed online. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
Sapporo rejects holding referendum over bidding for Olympics

By Yuri Kageyama And Stephen Wade Jun. 06, 2022 03:09 AM EDT

FILE - The Olympic rings during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. Officials in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo say there is public support for holding the 2030 Winter Olympics. However, Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto says the city has no plans to hold a binding public referendum for the final word. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Sapporo shows strong support for 2030 Winter Olympics

By Yuri Kageyama And Stephen Wade Mar. 16, 2022 08:59 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2021, file photo, fireworks illuminate over National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo. When the Tokyo Olympics began during a worsening pandemic, the majority of the host nation was in opposition, with Emperor Naruhito dropping the word “celebrating” from his opening declaration of welcome. But once the Games got underway and local media switched to covering Japanese athletes' “medal rush,” many were won over. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
Tokyo's Olympic fears give way to acceptance, to a point

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 11, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 1964, file photo, vapor trails from Japanese Self-Defense Force jets from the Olympic emblem of five rings above the National Stadium in Tokyo for the official opening of the XVIII Olympiad, first even held in Asia. The famous 1964 Tokyo Olympics highlighted Japan’s resiliency. It was a prospering country that was showing off bullet trains, transistor radios, and a restored reputation just 19 years after devastating defeat in World War II. Now Japan and Tokyo are on display again, attempting to stage the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the midst of a once-in-a century pandemic. (AP Photo, File)
Looking at Tokyo Olympics through the lens of the 1964 Games

By Stephen Wade Jul. 22, 2021 09:18 PM EDT

A man walks past the Olympic rings in Tokyo, Monday, June 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Coe urges persuading Japan that Tokyo Olympics will be safe

Jun. 08, 2021 07:04 AM EDT

European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a media conference at the European Council building, after taking part in an EU Japan Summit via video-link with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool via AP)
EU leaders express support for holding Tokyo Olympics

May. 27, 2021 06:37 AM EDT

A security guard wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks in front of the Olympic Rings on May 9, 2021, in Tokyo. The Japanese government was quick to respond on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to U.S. travel warning for Americans against traveling to Japan and denied impact on Olympic participants, as the country determinedly prepare to host the postponed games in two months. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Major Japan newspaper Asahi calls for Olympic cancellation

By Stephen Wade And Kantaro Komiya May. 25, 2021 09:50 PM EDT

President of Tokyo 2020 Hashimoto Seiko attends a Tokyo 2020 IOC Coordination Commission press conference Friday, May 21, 2021 in Tokyo. (Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP)
IOC VP: Tokyo Olympics go ahead even if state of emergency

By Stephen Wade And Yuri Kageyama May. 20, 2021 10:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2021, file photo, people walk past posters to promote the Olympic Games scheduled to start in the summer in Tokyo. Frustration is mounting over Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s request that people cooperate while he pushes to hold the Olympics in just over two months. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
IOC says negative public opinion is no threat to Tokyo Games

By Graham Dunbar May. 12, 2021 01:59 PM EDT

Seiko Hashimoto, president of Tokyo 2020, left, and Toshiro Muto, CEO of Tokyo 2020, attend a media huddle following the IOC Executive Board Meeting at the Tokyo 2020 headquarters in Tokyo, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. (Philip Fong/ Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo Games delay decision until June on fans -- or no fans

By Stephen Wade Apr. 20, 2021 11:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 3, 2020, file photo, the New National Stadium, a venue for the opening and closing ceremonies at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is seen from Shibuya Sky observation deck in Tokyo. Organizers and the International Olympic Committee are pushing on despite COVID-19 risks, myriad scandals, and overwhelming public opposition in Japan to holding the games. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
100 Days: Tokyo Olympics marked by footnotes and asterisks

By Stephen Wade Apr. 13, 2021 09:35 PM EDT

People walk by signage to promote the Olympic Games, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23 but recent polls show about 80% of the Japanese public want the Olympics canceled or postponed. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo Olympics to pick Mori replacement; is a woman likely?

By Stephen Wade Feb. 16, 2021 01:22 AM EST

Yoshiro Mori, the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Kim Kyung-hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo Olympics face another problem because of its president

By Stephen Wade Feb. 08, 2021 09:31 PM EST

Yoshiro Mori, the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, enters a venue for a news conference in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Kim Kyung-hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
Opposition remains strong to Tokyo Games after Mori remarks

By Stephen Wade Feb. 07, 2021 08:43 PM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2020, file photo, the Olympic Symbol is reinstalled after it was taken down for maintenance ahead of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the Odaiba section in Tokyo. More than 80% of people in Japan who were surveyed in two polls in the last few days say the Tokyo Olympics should be canceled or postponed, or say they believe the Olympics will not take place. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
80% say Tokyo Olympics should be called off or won't happen

By Stephen Wade Jan. 11, 2021 02:57 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2020, file photo, the Olympic Symbol is reinstalled after it was taken down for maintenance ahead of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the Odaiba section, in Tokyo. The official cost of the postponed Tokyo Olympics has increased by 22%, the local organizing committee said Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in unveiling its new budget. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Official costs of Tokyo Olympics up by 22% to $15.4 billion

By Stephen Wade Dec. 22, 2020 03:31 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2016, file photo, Japan's Kohei Uchimura celebrates his gold during the artistic gymnastics men's individual all-around final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tokyo Olympic organizers are expected to unveil their fifth annual budget before Christmas. It is expected to show the rising costs of the postponed Games. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Tokyo Olympics Q&A: Costs, IOC, COVID-19, and vaccinations

By Stephen Wade Dec. 18, 2020 11:19 PM EST

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. The growing availability of coronavirus vaccines is a “ray of hope” for hosting the Olympics next summer, Koike said Monday as Japan struggles with a new surge in infections. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
AP Interview: Tokyo leader: Vaccines give hope for Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Dec. 14, 2020 05:35 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2018, file photo, John Coates, the leader of the IOC's coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo. The International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers are trying to remove public doubts that the postponed Tokyo Olympics will take place next year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Tokyo organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto said last week that the games could go ahead without a vaccine. This week John Coates, the IOC member from Australia who oversees the Tokyo Olympics, said the games would happen despite the pandemic.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
Organizers, IOC trying to remove doubts over Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Sep. 08, 2020 03:46 AM EDT