Tokyo Olympics 2020: Japanese Government dismisses reports of cancellation

By Team Newsable | First Published Jan 23, 2021, 12:06 PM IST

The next edition of the Olympic Games would be held in Tokyo in 2021. It was initially scheduled to be held in 2020 but was postponed by a year, owing to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Although the situation is yet to improve, reports suggest that the edition could be cancelled.

The 2020 edition of the Tokyo Olympics has already seen postponement by a year, owing to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. As the date draws close for the tournament this year, the COVID situation is yet to get better.

Meanwhile, multiple reports and media outlets have suggested that the Japanese government was mulling on calling off the tournament and host it sometime in the near future. “No one wants to be the first to say so, but the consensus is that it’s too difficult. Personally, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Suga is not emotionally invested in the Games. But, they want to show that they are ready to go, so that they will get another chance in 11 years. In these circumstances, no one could really object to that,” a source was quoted as saying to The Times.

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While this has caused a stir among the organisers, the Japanese government has rubbished such reports. It has stated that no such decision had been taking, or is even in discussions. “Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as the Host City, will continue to exert its utmost efforts in order to materialise holding a safe and secure Games in close collaboration with all parties concerned such as the Japanese Government, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC),” affirmed Tokyo Metropolitan Government in a statement.

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Although a recent survey had clarified that 80% of Japanese people want the tournament to be called off this year and pushed to 2024 or 2032, IOC President Thomas Bach is adamant on the same going ahead this year. “There’s been no discussion on that at all. There is no discussion on 2032 with Japan because there is no discussion on not proceeding in Japan,” said John Coates, IOC Vice-President, to Sydney Morning Herald.

“Together with its Japanese partners and friends, the IOC is fully concentrated on and committed to the successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this year,” IOC clarified the same in its statement.

Besides the Olympics, the IPC, too, has clarified that work is on helping Tokyo organise the Paralympics, from August 24 to September 5. “Since last March’s postponement, everyone involved in the delivery of the Games has been working tirelessly to develop COVID-19 countermeasures and plans which we believe will mitigate the risk for the athletes, all Games stakeholders and, importantly, the Japanese public,” it said in a statement.

“In early February, the IOC, IPC and Tokyo 2020 will publish the first editions of playbooks targeting Games stakeholders. These playbooks will start to explain exactly how we aim to deliver this summer’s event and outline the personal responsibilities each person attending the Games must follow to ensure safe and secure Games,” it added.

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