Florida offers to host Olympics if Tokyo pulls out: state official



[ad_1]

Florida’s CFO told the International Olympic Committee on Monday that the state would be happy to host the Olympics amid speculation that the current host Japan could step down.

Jimmy Patronis wrote to Thomas Bach, the IOC chief, “encouraging you to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States of America, and specifically Florida.”

“As the media reports ‘privately’ of Japanese leaders concluding that they are too concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics to take place, there is still time to deploy a venue selection team to Florida,” he said. he declared.

The letter, signed by Patronis and posted online, cited the supposed strength of the state’s immunization rollout, its economic reopening and the sporting events it hosted during the pandemic, as well as the fact that its theme parks , including Disney World, are open for business.

But Florida has fought hard against the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 25,000 deaths to date in the state as the United States’ death toll approaches 420,000.

“Whatever precautions are needed, let’s find out and let’s do it,” Patronis said.

Last Friday, parties responsible for organizing the Tokyo games – slated for last year but delayed by a year due to the global health crisis – insisted they stick to the scheduled dates from July 23 to August 8.

“I am determined to hold a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that humanity has defeated the virus,” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said.

lm / ma / jh / bgs

[ad_2]

Source link