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TOKYO – IOC President Thomas Bach and local organizers oppose reports that the postponed Tokyo Olympics have been canceled.
Now set to open on July 23, the Tokyo Games were postponed 10 months ago during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and now the event looks threatened again.
The Times of London reported Thursday that the games will have to be canceled. He quoted an unidentified prominent member of the ruling government coalition.
“No one wants to be the first to say it, but the consensus is that it’s too difficult,” the source said. “Personally, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
In a statement, the local organizing committee did not directly address the Times story, but said the Olympics were moving forward and had the support of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
<< All of our delivery partners including National Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, IOC and IPC [International Paralympic Committee] are fully focused on organizing the games this summer, "the statement said.
“We hope that everyday life can get back to normal as quickly as possible, and we will continue to do everything we can to prepare for safe and secure games.”
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement that it had not been made aware of any change in the status of this summer’s event.
“All official communication on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will come from the IOC, the Tokyo Organizing Committee and the Japanese government,” the USOPC said. “We have not received any information to suggest the Games will not go as planned, and we remain focused on the health and preparedness of Team USA athletes leading up to this summer’s Games.”
The Times of London said Japan hopes to win the 2032 Olympics. The IOC has already awarded the 2024 Olympics to Paris and the 2028 version to Los Angeles.
The idea of Tokyo waiting a decade seems unlikely, given the cost of maintaining venues, negotiating new leases, etc. Tokyo has already spent around $ 25 billion to host these Olympics, most of which is public money.
Several reports of a cancellation began to surface this month when the Japanese government placed Tokyo and other prefectures under a state of emergency order to counter an increase in COVID-19 cases.
“We currently have no reason to believe that the Tokyo Olympics will not open on July 23 in the Tokyo Olympic Stadium,” Bach told Japan’s Kyodo news agency on Thursday. He also said there was “no plan B.”
Richard Pound, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee, said earlier in the week that the Olympics could go largely without supporters, making it a mostly televised event.
The Switzerland-based IOC derives 73% of its revenue from the sale of broadcast rights and has seen its main source of revenue blocked by the Olympic postponement. A largely exclusively televised event would suit the IOC better than a cancellation.
Unlike other sports companies that offer hundreds of games, the IOC only has two main events for sale: the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Bach has hinted that sweeping changes may be needed to make the Tokyo Olympics a success, which involves 11,000 athletes and tens of thousands of coaches, officials, judges, celebrities, media and broadcasters.
About 4,400 athletes will attend the Paralympic Games, which are scheduled to open on August 24.
“You may not like it, but sacrifices will be necessary,” Bach said. “That’s why I say, safety first, and no taboos in the discussion to ensure safety.”
Japan has reported fewer than 5,000 deaths from the coronavirus and has handled the virus better than most countries. But the boom is not diminishing in Tokyo, a vast metropolis of 35 million people.
Public opinion in Japan has also turned against the games, with 80% in several polls saying they should be postponed or canceled again.
Bach said organizers are in a better position to host the Olympics now than they were 10 months ago when the games were postponed.
“First of all, let me be clear that you cannot compare March 2021 with March 2020 because there are such advancements in science, medicine, vaccination and [virus] tests, “Bach told Kyodo.” All of this was not available in March of last year. No one yet knew how to really deal with the pandemic, and now we know a lot more. “
Japan is experiencing a slow rollout of vaccines. However, the IOC said its measures against the virus will focus on testing, quarantines, social distancing and keeping athletes largely isolated.
He encouraged athletes to get the shot but won’t need it.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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