Japan has no plans to postpone the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for this summer — even though a government official said it “would not make sense” to hold the games if international athletes are unable to come.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that the Japanese government still intends to hold the games from July 24 through Aug. 9 and is working closely with organizations such as the International Olympic Committee.
“We’re not making any adjustments to postpone the Games,” Suga told parliament when questioned by a lawmaker.
Tokyo 2020 organizers said the same on Wednesday — with organizing committee chief executive Toshiro Muto telling a briefing that the decision “has been agreed upon with all international federations.”
But Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said Wednesday that it “would not make sense” to go on as scheduled if other countries cannot send their athletes.
“As the prime minister [Shinzo Abe] said, it’s desirable to hold the Olympics in an environment where everyone feels safe and happy,” said Aso, who also serves as the country’s finance minister. “But that’s not something Japan alone can decide.”
Abe had said Tuesday that Group of Seven leaders agreed to support a “complete” Olympics, but he would not answer questions about whether the possibility of postponement had been addressed.
Meanwhile, top athletes are voicing their concerns with the International Olympic Committee over the rapidly spreading infection.
Worldwide, over 200,000 people have contracted the bug and more than 8,200 have died.
With Post wires