Baku, May 20, AZERTAC
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will arrive in Japan for the Tokyo Games on July 12, 11 days before the opening ceremony, according to Kyodo news.
Bach had planned to visit the country in mid-May but his trip was postponed due to a resurgence of coronavirus infections across Japan. He is considering rescheduling this trip for June ahead of the July 23 opening of the games.
The IOC president was to participate in a torch relay event in Hiroshima Prefecture last Monday and meet with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga the following day.
The three-day Olympic readiness meetings come at a time when skepticism about holding the event has grown noticeably, with 59.7 percent of respondents in a recent Kyodo News poll saying they should be canceled. The coordination commission meetings run through Friday.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce the easing of restrictions in England on Monday, as daily infections and deaths have dropped sharply, aided by one of the fastest vaccine rollouts in the world.
Measures effective from May 17 will include the reopening of indoor seating in pubs and restaurants.
People should also be able to meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors, while six people or two households can meet indoors.
The easing of restrictions will apply to England only, with the devolved governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales setting out their own rules.
International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach s planned visit to Japan in mid-May is "very difficult" amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country, the head of the Japanese organizing body of the Summer Games says