On May 7, local time, the chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Committee and the Paralympic Organizing Committee Hashimoto Seiko said that due to the extension of Japan’s emergency declaration, the IOC President Bach’s planned visit to Japan this month was “very difficult”. , It is likely to be suspended.
According to the Kyodo News Agency of Japan, Seiko Hashimoto said at a regular press conference on the 7th regarding the previously coordinated Bach visit to Japan on the 17th, "To be honest, I think it may be very serious."
The Japanese government announced on the 7th that the emergency declarations in the four prefectures of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo have been extended to the 31st, and two new prefectures, Aichi and Fukuoka have been added.
Hashimoto said that due to the extension of the emergency declaration, “coming during this period will place a huge burden on Chairman Bach and it will be very difficult.”
Kyodo News Agency pointed out that Bach gave up visiting the host country when the countdown to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was less than 80 days. This rare event may encourage "Olympic skepticism."
Bach visited Japan in November last year and intends to visit Japan again in cooperation with the torch relay in Hiroshima.
According to the originally coordinated schedule, it is planned to arrange for Bach to attend the torch relay ceremony in Hiroshima on the 17th and hold talks with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo on the 18th.
At present, the situation of the new crown epidemic in Japan is still severe, and the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee are also making final preparations for hosting the Olympic Games.
However, some Japanese people are opposed to hosting the Olympics this year.
A Japanese lawyer initiated an online petition called "Stopping the Tokyo Olympics" on May 5. More than 200,000 people have signed it.
(Producing Li Jiali)
Editor in charge: [Sun Jingbo]