Japan reiterates Olympics go-ahead despite cancellation rumors 1 minute read
Tokyo, Jan 22 (efe-epa).- The Japanese government on Friday reiterated its intention to hold the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo as planned, despite rumors of their possible cancellation amid the gravity of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country and the rest of the world.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he was determined to organize a safe Games in close collaboration with the Tokyo government, the Tokyo Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee.
Suga spoke in an address during a session of the upper house of parliament on Friday.
The Games should serve as proof of humanity’s victory against Covid-19, the Japanese leader added, reiterating the message that the Japanese authorities have been sending since March of last year, when the decision was taken to postpone the Games by a year on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
With much of Japan under a state of emergency due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections, organisers of the Tokyo Olympics will mark six months to go on Saturday with little fanfare, no fireworks and amid rapidly dwindling public support.
A visitor taking photos of the Olympic rings outside the Olympic Museum in Tokyo.
Photo: AFP
Though much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to a third wave of Covid-19 infections, Tokyo organisers have consistently vowed to press ahead with the Games scheduled to open on 23 July after having been postponed in March last year.
A government spokesman said there was no truth to a report in
The Times that Japan was now focused on rescheduling the event to 2032. We will clearly deny the report, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Manabu Sakai said in a press conference on Friday.
With much of Japan under a state of emergency due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections, organisers of the Tokyo Olympics will mark six months to go on Saturday with little fanfare, no fireworks and amid rapidly dwindling public support.