IOC: Tokyo Olympics are still on

Field Level Media
23 Jan 2021, 01:40 GMT+10

Officials for the Tokyo Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee remain committed to hosting the delayed Summer Games in July contrary to reports cancellation is being discussed.

The Times of London reported Friday that private discussions among key officials for the Games in Japan indicated cancellation had become a possibility. The Games were postponed from summer 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Some news reports circulating today are claiming that the government of Japan has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled because of the coronavirus," the IOC said in a statement. "This is categorically untrue ... All parties involved are working together to prepare for a successful Games this summer."

Tokyo 2020 organizers said that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is holding meetings, but the crux of those gatherings has been safely hosting the international competition as scheduled.

"All our delivery partners including the national government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the IOC and the IPC are fully focused on hosting the Games this summer," the statement said. "We hope that daily life can return to normal as soon as possible, and we will continue to make every effort to prepare for a safe and secure Games."

In a speech to parliament Friday morning, Suga said the Games "will be a symbol of humanity overcoming the novel coronavirus, and a chance to showcase Japan's reconstruction from the devastating (2011) earthquake and tsunami to the world."

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Atlanta Leader.

More Information

56 ℉

Fair in Atlanta

International

Section

Truck-SUV crash ends in 13 deaths, vehicle was carrying 25 passengers

HOLTVILLE, California: An overloaded SUV carrying as many as 25 passengers slammed into a semi-truck in California on Monday, killing ...

New York to allow weddings to begin March 15, some restrictions apply

ALBANY, New York: New York's new coronavirus-period dance rules will allow some dancing at parties. The state said that when ...

Repairing roads, bridges to be focus of White House, says officials

WASHINGTON D.C.: Looking beyond the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, President Joe Biden and other lawmakers are establishing the foundations ...

Black, brown communities targeted in Covid vaccination campaign

WASHINGTON DC - To boost vaccination rates among minorities, particularly Black and brown Americans, senior Biden administration officials say the ...

Justice Dept. to seek reversal of Texas eviction ruling

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Justice Department has announced it will appeal a court ruling that the federal prohibition on evictions ...

Biden press secretary says president seeks probe of NY Gov. Cuomo

WASHINGTON, DC - Following accusations of sexual harassment against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, White House press secretary Jen Psaki ...

Business

Section