Tokyo (AFP)

The Tokyo Olympics, postponed last year from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic, will take place "whatever happens" regarding the evolution of the health crisis, assured Tuesday the president of the Japanese organizing committee Yoshiro Mori.

"We must move beyond the debates on whether to hold them or not. The question is how we will organize them," he added, at a meeting between the Tokyo-2020 committee and officials of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) in power in Japan.

"Let us reflect on this occasion on a new kind of Olympic Games" again launched Mr. Mori, while the Japanese organizers have already expressed their desire to make the Tokyo Olympics a "model" for future editions, which could also be faced with health crises such as the Covid-19.

Mr. Mori's statements come as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to announce on Tuesday an extension until March 7 of the state of emergency system in the face of the pandemic set up in early January in several departments of the country (including Tokyo and its suburbs) for an initial period of one month.

A tightening of the conditions of access to Japan for non-residents has already forced the postponement of several sporting events, including a synchronized swimming test event also serving as an Olympic qualifying tournament, postponed to early May when it was due to take place. hold early March.

The Olympic Torch Relay across Japan is still scheduled to start on March 25.

The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics are due to present new details on their countermeasures against the coronavirus on Wednesday.

Tough decisions on the number of spectators, going as far as possible closed doors, should be made in the spring.

A large majority of Japanese public opinion is currently opposed to hosting the Olympics this year, fearing it will worsen the pandemic in Japan, according to recent polls.

But the organizers ruled out any further postponement or cancellation, and received the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as well as sportsmen from around the world.

© 2021 AFP