The postponed Olympics should be held subsequent yr “by all means”, Tokyo’s governor stated on Wednesday, changing into the newest official to insist the occasion is possible despite the coronavirus pandemic. Yuriko Koike’s remarks, at an occasion hosted by Kyodo information company, come after Worldwide Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates informed AFP that the Video games would go forward in 2021 “with or with out COVID”. “Athletes are going by a lot hardship because of the one-year delay provided that their bodily situation and motivation had been focused at this summer time,” Koike stated, based on an English translation of her remarks revealed by Kyodo.
“Now we have to go ahead with the Video games subsequent summer time by all means,” she added, on the company occasion for the information company’s subscribers.
The town will “implement each potential measure” to make sure the security of the occasion, Koike stated.
On Tuesday, Japan’s Olympic minister additionally stated the occasion must be held subsequent yr, given athletes’ efforts to be prepared.
“I really feel we have now to carry it at any price,” Seiko Hashimoto stated when requested about Coates’s remarks.
The 2020 Video games had been postponed in a historic choice earlier this yr due to the pandemic, and they’re now set to open on July 23, 2021.
However Japan’s borders are nonetheless largely closed to international guests and a vaccine is months and even years away.
Officers have made clear that one other delay wouldn’t be potential, and there are indicators that public enthusiasm in Japan is waning.
Regardless of the obstacles, Coates stated on Monday he was assured the Video games would open as deliberate subsequent yr, vowing they would be the “Video games that conquered COVID”.
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“It should happen with or with out COVID. The Video games will begin on July 23 subsequent yr,” he stated.
The Tokyo 2020 organisers haven’t commented straight on whether or not they agree with Coates’s evaluation however stated his remarks confirmed the IOC was dedicated to holding the Video games subsequent yr.
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