International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Yu Zaiqing speaks during the series of China Red Spring Festival at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Swizterland, Feb. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)
The determination of Japan and the International Olympic Committee to host, as scheduled, the Tokyo Olympics has not changed, said IOC vice president Yu Zaiqing.
The COVID-19 challenges have not compromised Japan and the International Olympic Committee’s determination to host, as scheduled, the Tokyo 2020, which was already postponed for a year due to the pandemic, IOC vice president Yu Zaiqing said.
The remarks were made in an interview with Xinhua on Friday, during which Yu confirmed that the IOC and its Japanese partners’ determination to host the Tokyo Games “remains unchanged” and urged for “spreading accurate information.”
Earlier on Friday, Dick Pound, the longest-serving IOC member, told UK’s state broadcaster BBC that “I can’t be certain because the ongoing elephant in the room would be the surges in the virus,” raising concerns about whether the postponed Games will be staged.
The illuminated Olympic rings, Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower return to Tokyo Bay area on Dec. 1, 2020, about four months after being removed for safety and maintenance checks. The Rainbow Bridge is specially illuminated in rainbow colors. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
Tokyo 2020 organizers said in a statement on the same day that they will continue to “proceed carefully with all necessary work” under “required safety and security measures” in preparation for the Games that is due to be held from July 23 to August 8.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised that “a safe and secure games” would be held as scheduled despite declaring on Thursday afternoon a state of emergency for Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures from January 8 to February 7 as the capital city reported a record 2,447 new COVID-19 cases that day.
Source: Xinhua