Olympic Games: Japanese official says Tokyo must stage event in 2021
Japan's Olympic minister: "I think we have to hold the Games at any cost. I want to concentrate all our efforts on measures against the coronavirus."
Last Updated: 08/09/20 6:54am
The rearranged Tokyo Games must be held "at any cost" in 2021, says Japan's Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto.
Speaking at a news conference, Hashimoto said the Games should be held for the benefit of the athletes, regardless of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented decision in March to postpone the Games, originally scheduled to begin in July, until 2021 because of the virus.
"Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare, and the athletes are also making considerable efforts towards next year," Hashimoto said.
"I think we have to hold the Games at any cost," she added.
"I want to concentrate all our efforts on measures against the coronavirus."
Officials from the Japanese government, local Tokyo government and the Olympics organising committee met for the first time last week to develop steps to counter the coronavirus at the Games.
In an interview in July, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said organisers were preparing to host the Games next year even if the global coronavirus pandemic hasn't eased substantially.
Organisers are looking at over 200 proposals on how best to deal with the virus, including easing travel restrictions for foreign athletes, anti-virus measures at the Athletes' Village and how to handle spectators.
