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The Times of London, quoting an unnamed senior official in the ruling coalition, on Friday reported that Japanese authorities had privately concluded that the Olympics could not proceed due to the ongoing pandemic. CNN did not independently verify this report, which Tokyo officials quickly refuted.
In a statement, Tokyo 2020 organizers said Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had expressed his determination to host the Games to them, and that meetings were underway to ensure they could move forward while putting implementing comprehensive anti-infectious countermeasures and other pandemic precautions.
“All of our delivery partners, including the national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, IOC and IPC, are fully focused on hosting the Games this summer,” said the communicated. “We hope that daily life can get back to normal as soon as possible, and we will continue to do everything we can to prepare for a safe and secure Games.”
Asked about the matter in parliament, the Japanese prime minister said he was determined to achieve the Tokyo Olympics, Reuters reported. Suga and his office declined to comment when approached by CNN on Friday morning.
Other Olympic officials were also quick to deny the Times’ claims.
“Unfortunately, I have to respond to the unfounded rumor that the Tokyo Games will be canceled,” Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll said on Friday. “False rumors create more anxiety for athletes in our sports. The Tokyo Games are on. The flames will be lit on July 23, 2021. This has just been reconfirmed by the Japanese Prime Minister this afternoon.”
In a Twitter thread, Canadian Olympic leader David Shoemaker said his team “was not aware of any decisions made by the Japanese government, as reported.”
“The Canadian Olympic Committee is convinced that the Games can be staged safely and successfully given what has been learned in sport over the past few months and the focus that the IOC and the Organizing Committee of Tokyo 2020 have put on Covid-19 countermeasures, ”he said. “We continue to prepare to participate in Tokyo 2020 with a focus on the health and safety of our athletes, their families and their communities.”
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