The IOC and Japan reiterate their commitment to host the Olympic Games this summer

The logo of the Tokyo Games, on one of the streets of the Japanese capital.ISSEI KATO / Reuters

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese government have reaffirmed that the Olympic Games will be held from July 23, 2021 in Tokyo, as agreed in March last year when they were postponed for a year due to the pandemic.

Rumors about the suspension or cancellation of the appointment occur with half a year left until the appointment and the pandemic is accentuated in several countries, including Japan.

The English newspaper

The Times

published that a member of the Japanese government coalition whose name did not reveal, assures that the cancellation of the Games is already taken for granted.

“Nobody wants to be the first to say it, but the consensus is that it is too difficult.

Personally, I do not think they will be held, "says the Japanese politician in

The Times

.

The Japanese Cabinet Undersecretary, Manabu Sakai, stated at a press conference: "There is absolutely nothing true" in what the English newspaper publishes.

According to this information, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga hopes that his country will host the Games in 2032 because Paris will host the Games in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028. “Suga,”

The Times

publishes

, “is not emotionally involved in the games.

But they want to show they are ready and have another chance 11 years from now.

In these circumstances, no one could object to that. "

Tokyo joined Sakai in vehemently denying the cancellation of the Games.

“The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as the host city, will continue to do its utmost to realize a safe and secure Games in close collaboration with all stakeholders such as the Japanese Government, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee. (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ”, he reported in a statement.

The pandemic and the surveys

Doubts about the feasibility of organizing the Games from July 23, 2021 have increased in recent days as coronavirus cases have increased in the Tokyo area, and the government has declared a state of alarm.

Furthermore, according to a recent survey by Kyodo News, 80% of Japanese people want this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo to be canceled or postponed.

IOC President Thomas Bach said Thursday: “At this time, we have no reason to believe that the Tokyo Olympics will not open on July 23 at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.

There is no plan B and we are fully committed to making these Games safe and successful. "

The vice president of the IOC and president of the Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission, John Coates, has also insisted that the preparations for the Games continue and ensures that the alternative of awarding Tokyo the 2032 Games has not been contemplated.

IOC statement

The IOC has issued a statement in which it says: “Some news circulating today report that the Government of Japan has privately made the decision that the Tokyo Olympics be canceled due to the coronavirus.

This is categorically false ”.

He continues: “Together with its Japanese friends and partners, the IOC is fully focused and committed to the successful holding of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games this year.

Since the postponement of last March, all those involved in the delivery of the Games have been working tirelessly to develop measures and plans against covid-19 that will mitigate the risk for athletes, all those involved in the Games and, what is more important, the Japanese public ”, concludes the statement.

The Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) issued a statement referring to the public announcement by the IOC.

From the Spanish body, the statements of its president Alejandro Blanco are influenced: "We continue working so that the Spanish Olympic Committee can once again be a reference in the world with its performance, its behavior and its results."

On January 27, the IOC plans to hold a meeting of its Executive by videoconference in which the organizing committees of the Games will intervene to present the development of their preparations for the Olympic event.