The Tokyo Olympics are being held for the moment in the summer of 2021. -
Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
The holding of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 seems "unlikely" as the coronavirus epidemic continues to paralyze a large part of the world, a senior official of the London 2012 Olympics ruled on Tuesday. Keith Mills, deputy chairman of the committee London Games organizer therefore believes that Japanese organizers should consider canceling them.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese Olympic Committee, however, remain determined to organize these Games this summer despite the still present epidemic.
Unless it is a facade posture.
"Personally, from where I am, seeing the epidemic in the world, in South America, North America, Africa, Europe, it seems unlikely to me," Mills told the BBC.
Is Japan retreating to jump better?
And, "if I were in the place of the organizers, I would make plans for a cancellation, and I'm sure they do, but I think they'll really wait until the last moment to decide in case the situation would improve, ”he added.
A state of emergency has been declared in Tokyo and other regions of Japan in the face of a resurgence in the number of contaminations, and public support for the organization of the Tokyo Olympics has plunged, according to polls .
But for the president of World Athletics, the international athletics federation, Sebastian Coe, these Games must take place.
“I don't think they need to be canceled,” he told Sky News.
“I think the Games will take place but they will be different,” he added.
For their part, according to various polls published in recent weeks, the Japanese are still mostly unfavorable to the holding of the Games this year on their soil.
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