Olympic official asks for Biden’s help to save Tokyo Games: ‘it’s in the US’

The United States brings the largest contingent of athletes and the richest television fund to the Games. He is also Japan’s ally and military protector, so an expression of determination to move forward would influence a skeptical Japanese public and reassure other countries that are unsure of sending athletes in Tokyo.

Uncertainty about the Games is increasing as virus cases have rebounded in many countries and vaccination programs have stammered. A British newspaper reported last week that Japan had given up on hosting the Olympics this year. The government called the report “categorically false”.

On Friday, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, held phone calls with National Olympic Committees around the world to reassure them about the Games and to discuss the vaccination of athletes against the coronavirus. He said there was no alternative plan for the Tokyo Olympics.

Mr Takahashi said keeping the United States on board the Games, including the Olympic channel NBC, was the most important task.

“I hate to say it in the United States, but Thomas Bach and the IOC are not the ones who are able to make the decision about the Games. They don’t have that level of leadership, ”he said.

Mr Biden has not spoken publicly about the Olympics since becoming president because he prioritizes tackling the pandemic. When asked about Mr Biden’s take on the Olympics on Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she did not know them.

Following the UK newspaper’s report, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement on Friday that it was focusing “on the health and preparedness of the US team’s athletes ahead of this summer’s Games.” .

Responding to Mr. Takahashi’s suggestion that a strong statement from Mr. Biden was needed, an IOC spokesperson said: “It is unfortunate that Mr. Takahashi does not know the facts. First: the USOPC decides the US Olympic and Paralympic team. Second: the USOPC has never left any doubt about their participation. Therefore, his comments are out of date. “

The spokesperson declined to comment on Mr Takahashi’s suggestion that Mr Bach and the IOC were unable to make a decision regarding the Games.

Despite polls showing that around 80% of the Japanese public are opposed to hosting the Games this year, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga also reiterated an optimistic view. “I am determined to host the Games safely and securely in July, in close cooperation with national and foreign organizations,” he told parliament on Friday.

However, in recent days there have been more open discussions in Japan about alternatives to hosting the Games this summer. Senior officials from a minority party weakly allied with the government have suggested the Olympic calendar could be pushed back, with Tokyo replacing Paris as host in 2024 or taking the next slot opened in 2032. Opposition politicians, meanwhile, have urged Mr. Suga to consider removing the event altogether.

Kaori Yamaguchi, a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee, said the IOC needs to be more open about possible alternatives to the Games this year. She said it was worth discussing the option of postponing the event to an undetermined time in the future. If Japan continues with the Olympics and the Games run into issues like clusters of infection, it will tarnish their legacy and make countries less willing to host the event, she said.

“It’s scary not to have a plan B,” she says.

—Rachel Bachman and Chieko Tsuneoka contributed to this article.

Write to Alastair Gale at [email protected]