Athlete vaccinations started, new guidelines to alleviate concerns: IPC spokesman By Jack Tarrant
FILE PHOTO: Giant Olympic rings at a park ,amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
TOKYO (Reuters) – Some athletes have already started being vaccinated against COVID-19, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday, ahead of the release of new guidelines that he says will show that Tokyo Games organisers are in a much better position than the public believes.
More than 15,000 competitors are expected at the July 23-Aug.8 Games, postponed from last year because of the pandemic.
With a recent poll suggesting around 80 percent of people in Japan not wanting the Games to be held this summer, and coronavirus cases rising across the world, organisers are battling to prove they can hold the Games safely in Tokyo [M1L1N2JW34O].
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who previously said spectator numbers could be reduced to a "reasonable" level at the Tokyo Games, touched on the possibility of not having spectators at all.
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Highlights
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach reaffirmed his commitment to holding the Games this year in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga this week said the showpiece event would bring hope and courage to the world.
About 80% of people in Japan do not want the Games to be held this summer, recent opinion polls show, over fears the influx of athletes will spread the virus further.
Japan s government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Times reported, citing an unnamed senior member of the ruling coalition. The government s focus is now on securing the Games for Tokyo in the next available year, 2032, the newspaper said.
The Times reported on Friday that Japan's government had privately concluded the already-delayed Tokyo Olympics would be canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga and IOC President Bach this week strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the Tokyo Olympic Games going ahead in July this year.