The Japanese government said “we will prepare as planned” regarding the possibility of cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July.
In an interview with a local broadcaster on the 17th, Japanese Minister Kato Katsunobu emphasized that “the location and schedule have been decided,” and that “the officials are making thorough preparations including infection control.”
Secretary Kato’s remarks on the day came amid spreading wave of waves, when Taro Kono made a remark in a recent interview with Reuters, suggesting the possibility of cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.
“Anything is possible, but we must do everything we can as a host country,” Kono said in an interview with the media on the 14th. That way, it will be a good Olympics when the game goes on.” He added, “The Olympic Committee will be thinking of Plan B and Plan C.”
In response, some media have interpreted this as the first indication of a possible postponement of the Olympics by a senior Japanese official.
Earlier, Dick Pound, the longest-running member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said on the British’BBC’ broadcast on the 7th that, referring to the spread of the novel coronavirus in connection with the Tokyo Olympics, “I cannot guarantee”.
In Tokyo, where the Olympics are scheduled to be held in July, the number of new coronavirus new cases exceeded 1,500 as of the 17th.
The Japanese government expanded the emergency situation to 11 regions including Osaka, following the metropolitan area such as Tokyo.
VOA news
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