He describes an ambivalent mood in Japan, addressed in a recent meme, ahead of the pending Olympics. The pandemic-adjusted Tokyo Games get underway on July 23 under a state of emergency in the capital and amid opposition from those who fear the potential public health consequences of what's to come. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach waves to the media from a vehicle after landing in Tokyo on Thursday. On paper, the Tokyo Games have an official cost of $15.4 billion US, though audits suggest it's substantially higher than that. "The Olympics are supposed to be former prime minister Abe's departing grand gift to the country," he said.

Source: CBC News July 11, 2021 07:52 UTC