Michael Baker: Kiwi epidemiologist backs growing calls to postpone the Tokyo Olympics

An epidemiologist is backing new research, calling for the Japanese Government to reconsider this year's Tokyo Olympics.An article in the British Medical Journal says an international mass gathering like the Games is not safe or secure during a pandemic.It says holding them -- and ignoring science -- is contradictory to Japan's commitment to global health and human security.A recent survey of Japan residents found 72 per cent wanted it cancelled or postponed, due to slow vaccine rollout.University of Otago's Michael Baker told Francesca Rudkin there's serious safety concerns."Whether this even makes sense given the spirit of the Olympics and what it's trying to do, just almost the absurdity of holding an Olympic Games in the middle of a global pandemic."He says the country's allowing quarantine-free entry for athletes."It really is exposing them of bringing in new variants of the virus, and it is a real threat to the people of Japan."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.