The Olympics WILL go ahead in 2021, insist Japan despite rising fears that coronavirus disruption will stretch into summer
Japan has insisted that the Olympics will go ahead in 2021, despite rising fears that coronavirus disruption will stretch into the summer.
The country's prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, said the 'Games will be held this summer' and promised they will be 'safe and secure'.
The Olympics are scheduled to begin on July 23, with the Paralympics following a month later.
It comes after a spike in coronavirus cases in Tokyo has raised fresh fears about the Olympics in the summer.
Japan has insisted that the Olympics will go ahead in 2021, despite rising fears that coronavirus disruption will stretch into the summer
The country's prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, said the 'Games will be held this summer' and promised they will be 'safe and secure'. File image of Suga above
The country recorded 783 new coronavirus infections on Friday. Japan has recorded a total of 239,041 coronavirus cases and 3,337 deaths during the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Local and government officials have now warned that a state of emergency might be needed to tackle the spread of the disease — just 203 days before the rescheduled Olympics are due to start.
Japan has already banned all non-resident foreigners from entering the country until January 31. A travel exemption for elite athletes and coaches has also been scrapped for countries with the new Covid variant, such as the United Kingdom.
Olympic organisers still insist the Games will take place as planned in the summer in front of spectators, including overseas visitors.
But it emerged this week that athletes may face a 14-day quarantine period when they arrive in the country in July — something which the International Olympic Committee had previously ruled out.
Olympic organisers still insist the Games will take place in the summer in front of spectators
But it emerged this week that athletes may face a 14-day quarantine period when they arrive
Such measures could see a number of top stars pull out of the Games, including cyclists, as the Tour de France is scheduled to end just six days before the Olympic road race.
Belgian rider Greg van Avermaet, the Rio 2016 road race champion, said: 'If the riders have to choose between the Tour and the Games, you will not have the strongest field in Tokyo. A solution has to be found.
'The commercial value of the Tour is very great. The Olympic Games are not raced in a team jersey, but it is still the team that pay us.'
As a result, Belgian rider Greg van Avermaet said there may not be the strongest field in Tokyo