The organizers of the Tokyo Summer Olympics do not intend to cancel the competition. This was announced on Friday, April 16, by the head of the organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto.
According to her, the competition is planned to be held taking into account all security measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are not considering the possibility of canceling the Games. We are focused on taking security measures and holding competitions, ”she said during a press conference.
Minister Tamae Marukawa, responsible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, added that athletes will be tested for coronavirus every day, NHK reports.
On the eve of the general secretary of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Japan, Toshihiro Nikai, admitted that the OI could be canceled due to the worsening situation with the coronavirus. According to him, the organization of the competition in such conditions is difficult.
On the same day, the Japanese minister in charge of vaccination, Taro Kono, said that the Games could be held without spectators at sports facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On March 20, it became known that the Olympic Games will be held without foreign fans. The organizers decided to impose restrictions due to the situation with COVID-19. The Japanese authorities plan to host 90,000 foreign athletes, coaches, journalists and sponsor representatives.
The Tokyo Olympics were supposed to take place from July 24 to August 9, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the competition was postponed for a year. Now the competition will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. At the same time, the name of the Tokyo 2020 Games has been retained.