Don’t cancel the Olympics – they’re needed more than ever

The games have the power to unite countries, and global cooperation is necessary to overcome coronavirus, writes Kate Robertson

Saturday 16 January 2021 09:39 GMT
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<p>A Japanese government minister has said the Tokyo Olympics decision ‘could go either way’</p>

A Japanese government minister has said the Tokyo Olympics decision ‘could go either way’

In the middle of a global pandemic, sport is way down the list of priorities for governments and citizens. The world has been hit by a scourge that has brought economies to the point of collapse. If the pandemic has proved anything it’s that nations need to know each other, to work together and ultimately to share the answer to the challenge.

But, in fact, the level of division in today’s world is shocking and depressing, particularly so given the unique nature of the challenges we face. But divided we stand, whether as a result of strong-man politics, the toxicity of social media, environmental degradation or pervasive inequality.

At a time when travel has stopped and billions are confined to their homes, how do we bring the world together?

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