Tokyo 2020 director does not rule out last-minute cancellation of the Olympic Games by covid

Tokyo 2020: they do not rule out canceling the 3:25 games

(CNN) -

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto is not ruling out a last-minute cancellation of the Olympics amid a surge in covid-19 cases.

Tokyo reported 1,387 new cases of covid-19 on Tuesday, the second-highest daily increase in new cases in the city since January 21, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government website.

And with athletes arriving before the opening ceremony on Friday, the number of cases in Japan linked to the Games now exceeds 70, according to organizers.

"We cannot predict what the epidemic will be like in the future. So as to what to do in case there is an increase in positive cases, we will discuss accordingly if that happens," Muto said during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"During the last five-party talk, it was clearly stated that we will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation, and a five-party talk will be held if necessary."

The five parties are the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the government of Japan, the Tokyo metropolitan government, and the International Paralympic Committee.

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"At this stage, the coronavirus situation could get worse or better, so we will think about what to do when the situation really arises," added Muto.

• Tokyo Olympics: when are they, where to see them and everything you need to know

The capital is under a coronavirus state of emergency, which expires on August 22, and organizers announced this month that Tokyo venues will have no spectators as a result.

Just three days before the sports show begins, Tokyo public health expert Dr. Kenji Shibuya said the Olympic bubble system "is somewhat broken."

"Visitors, athletes, journalists, delegates, of course they are supposed to be inside the bubble, but it is not working well," Shibuya said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday.

"Obviously the bubble system is a bit broken, so there seems to be some kind of interaction between guests and visitors and also local people."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 organizers did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.

Tokyo 2020 will host some 11,000 athletes, representing more than 200 countries, and will be housed in 21 residential buildings.

However, not all of these athletes will be in Tokyo for the entire duration of the Games.

Organizers say the athletes are expected to arrive at the Olympic Village five days before the competition and depart no more than two days after.

'Fundamental problem'

The coach of the Czech Republic Olympic beach volleyball team, Simon Nausch, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Czech Olympic committee announced on Tuesday.

Nausch, who becomes the third member of the Czech Olympic team to test positive for the virus, has left the Olympic village and is isolating himself.

"As a result of previous cases on our team, we tried to be extremely careful, unfortunately it didn't work out. However, I am very happy to be isolated before I can jeopardize someone else's participation in the games," Nausch said.

Shibuya added that he believes the "fundamental problem" has been the "lack of open and transparent discussion" on how the Games can be held safely.

"There is no way for them to track people's movement, and there is no quarantine for athletes and journalists for a long 14 days," Shibuya added.

"In theory, if they could have implemented all the measures, it could have been done, but in reality the bubble is not working."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was not immediately available for CNN's request for comment.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, but it is not yet clear how many people will participate.

Organizers told CNN that "fewer athletes" are expected to participate because they will arrive in the country after the ceremony "in line with current restrictions that will govern their stay at the Olympic Village."

"We are holding delegation registration meetings with individual athletes, during which it is confirmed whether or not they will participate in the opening ceremony," the Tokyo 2020 press office told CNN.

"As these meetings will continue until the day before the Opening Ceremony, we are not yet able to provide a detailed estimate of the number of participants."

The Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is in Japan and will address the IOC.

"May these # Tokyo2020 Olympics be a source of hope and unity to achieve #VaccineEquity and end the pandemic," tweeted Tedros, who is generally known by his first name.

The IOC has unanimously approved the decision to include the word "together" in the Olympic motto.

• Tokyo reports almost 1,400 new cases of covid-19 three days before the Olympic Games

IOC President Thomas Bach said the motto amendment is to "adapt it to our times" during the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The amended Olympic motto is "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together".

It is the adaptation of the original Latin motto that is now translated as "Citius, Altius, Fortius - Communiter".

"I think this is really a milestone in our development," said Bach, "we want to put a special focus on solidarity, and this is what the word 'together' means, that we are working in solidarity."

Gawon Bae contributed to this report.

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