The Deputy Cabinet Secretary denies a report in the Times Friday that the Japanese government privately decides that the Tokyo Olympics must be postponed because of the coronavirus; A report suggested that Japan’s focus is now on the Games for Tokyo in 2032
Last updated: 22/01/21 8:40 am
The Olympics are expected to start with a delay on July 23
The Japanese government insists there is “no truth in it” they have decided that the Tokyo Olympics must be postponed due to a coronary virus outbreak.
Tokyo 2020 organizers have promised to hold the reorganized Games in the summer despite the fact that much of Japan is in a state of emergency due to the third wave of Covid-19 diseases.
But, The Times, announcing an unknown former member of the governing coalition, said the government ‘s focus has now been on securing the Games for Tokyo in the next available year, 2032.
“We will clearly deny the report,” Deputy Cabinet Secretary Manabu Sakai said in response at a press conference.
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and the Games’ organizing committee said his partners, including the government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), were “fully focused” on bringing hosting the games as expected.
Event organizers reported Sky Sports News last week they remained committed to holding the showcase event in the summer and hadn’t talked about another delay.
0:38 Masa Takaya of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee is confident that the Games will be held in 2021 and will not need to be postponed for a second time due to coronavirus infection.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday there is no “no Plan B” for Tokyo 2020.
“We have no reason at this point to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on July 23 in an Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Bach said.
3:11 Sky Sports News’ Geraint Hughes explains that IOC president Thomas Bach is confident that the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead as scheduled this year.
The IOC said last year that they would not postpone the Games beyond 2021.
A recent rise in coronavirus cases has forced Japan to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and other cities.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said he was cautiously optimistic that successful Covid-19 vaccination campaigns could help ensure that the world’s largest sporting event is kept safe.
Games spokeswoman Masa Takaya said Sky Sports News them they would watch as J.League’s football and basketball seasons began in Japan over the next few weeks to find out how spectators can be taken.
Tokyo reported more than 1,000 new daily coronavirus cases for nine straight days through Thursday and set a one-day record of more than 2,400 diseases earlier in the month.
The death toll from respiratory disease is nearly 4,900 in Japan.
About 80 percent of people in Japan don’t want the Games to be held in the summer, recent polls show.