As the costs of the just-ended Tokyo Olympics have greatly overrun initial estimates amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Japanese taxpayers eventually expected to make up for the shortfall, the quadrennial sporting event may lose favor with the country's fans, experts say.
The Olympics were held without spectators at almost all venues amid the pandemic, meaning most of the ¥90 billion ($820 million) in estimated ticket revenues from the Tokyo Games disappeared.
The costs for the games had already ballooned due to additional outlays stemming from their one-year postponement amid the global health crisis, anti-virus measures and increased construction expenditures for the venues.