Olympics WILL go ahead this summer ‘regardless of how the coronavirus situation looks’, insists Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori despite a recent spike in cases in Japan
- There have been growing fears the rescheduled Games may not take place
- There has been a recent spike in infections in Japan and across the world
- But Tokyo 2020 president insists Japan will hold the Olympics regardless
- Yoshiro Mori said Japan was working closely with IOC to make Games happen
Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori has insisted that Japan would hold the Olympics this summer regardless of the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and was working closely with the International Olympic Committee to make them happen.
‘We will hold the Olympics, regardless of how the coronavirus (situation) looks,’ Mori said, adding that the discussion should focus on how, not whether, the Olympics will happen.
‘We must consider new ways of hosting the Olympics’ as a part of that, he said.
The Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to take place this summer after its postponement last year
Mori added that while working together had its difficulties, Tokyo 2020 organisers and the IOC had a strong relationship.
Mori was speaking at the start of a meeting with Japan’s Sports Research Commission.
The 2020 Games were postponed last year due to the global spread of the novel coronavirus.
A recent spike in infections in Japan that triggered a state of emergency in some areas has fuelled speculation about whether the rescheduled Games can be held this summer.