"Not true": Japan denied reports of possible cancellation of Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo

Japan has denied rumors about the cancellation of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, which are due to take place in the summer of 2021.

The government of the country said that they are not yet considering the option of abandoning the competition and will do everything possible to make them take place.

At the same time, the organizing committee of the tournament agreed that such a development of events is quite real, and told when they plan to make the final decision on this issue.

The possible cancellation of the Summer Olympics became widely discussed in connection with the publication in the British press.

On the eve, The Times reported that Japan is seriously considering abandoning the idea of ​​organizing the Games in 2021.

In the face of a pandemic, this could become too difficult, the source said.

“Nobody wants to be the first to announce this, but everyone agrees that (to hold the Olympics -

RT

) will be too difficult.

I don't think this will happen, ”said the source /

At the same time, the Japanese government hopes that instead of the current tournament, Tokyo will receive the right to host the Summer Olympics in the future.

Perhaps they believe that the International Olympic Committee will not shift the schedule, and the competitions of 2024 and 2028 will be held in Paris and Los Angeles, respectively.

Thus, their hopes are connected with the Games of 2032, the owner of which has not yet been determined, the newspaper writes.

Apparently, many in the government of the country share the opinion that the OI will not be able to be held next summer and consider it correct to abandon this idea due to the spread of COVID-19.

If in 2020, according to WHO, a maximum of 3841 infected were detected per day, then over the past two weeks the bar has never dropped below 5000. Moreover, on January 9, an anti-record was recorded of 7855 people.

In Japan, vaccination against coronavirus is planned to begin only at the end of February.

According to the chairman of the Communist Party Kazuo Sii, the process will not be completed by the summer.

This is reported by The Asahi Shimbun.

Also, in his opinion, the inability of the state to provide the required number of medical workers at the competitions may become a problem, because most of them will still be occupied by patients with COVID-19.

"It is necessary to cancel the Games this summer, and all the efforts of Japan and the rest of the world should be aimed at containing the pandemic of the new coronavirus," Sei said at a plenary session of the Lower House of Parliament.

Chairman of the Constitutional Democratic Party Yukio Edano expressed his agreement with Sii.

He called the desire to organize the competition irresponsible, despite the increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in the world.

It is noted that the proposal to postpone the games was supported by other representatives of the opposition.

Nevertheless, the Japanese government was quick to deny rumors about the possible cancellation of the Olympics.

Deputy Secretary General of the Cabinet of Ministers Manabu Sakai said that all possible options for the development of the situation are being considered, but at the moment everything possible is being done to ensure that the Games take place in 2021.

“This is not true ... Of course, we must take into account the situation that is happening abroad, and someday we can make a decision (to cancel the Olympics. -

RT

).

But until that time, the Japanese government will do whatever is needed, ”Sakai TASS said.

Seiko Hashimoto, Minister for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, agreed with him.

According to her, at present, every effort is being made to take the necessary measures against the spread of the coronavirus and to organize competitions.

"The Tokyo administration, the organizing committee of the games, the international Olympic committee are in close cooperation and continue to prepare," Hashimoto was quoted as saying by NHK.

However, she also commented on the opposition's proposal to abandon the attempt to organize the Games.

According to her, this is due to people's concern about the situation around the coronavirus both in Japan and abroad.

However, she added that the task of the country's leadership is to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the event and to ensure a safe and calm Olympics.

The head of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, also admitted the possible cancellation of the competition, among other things, informing the time frame for a decision on this issue.

According to him, this may happen on the eve of the start of the Olympic torch relay, scheduled for March 25.

“Naturally, we are considering the worst case from different angles.

(The question of holding. - RT) The Olympic Games can be clarified depending on whether the Olympic torch relay starts or is postponed, "Mori TASS quotes.

Subsequently, rumors about the decision to abandon the organization of the Games were denied by representatives of the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

The official statement said that there were no changes regarding the holding of the competition in the summer of 2021.

“The IOC, IPC, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and all partners are fully committed to the success of the Games and are focused on the safe and secure organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

This position has not changed and has been reaffirmed by the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese government, according to a statement published on the website of the International Paralympic Committee.

It should be noted that the position is fully consistent with the recent statement of the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach.

In his opinion, there is no reason to believe that the Olympic Games for any reason may not start on July 23.

“First of all, let me emphasize that March 2021 cannot be compared with March 2020, as there has been significant progress in terms of science, medicine, vaccination and testing.

This was not the case in March last year.

Then no one knew how to deal with a pandemic, but now we know much more about it, "The Japan Times quotes Bach.

A similar position was taken by the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Richard Pound.

Apparently, the Australian Olympic Committee has no doubts about the Games.

They assured that they continue to prepare for the tournament and intend to do everything possible for the team to successfully perform in Tokyo, after which they return home in safety.