The Japanese government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled because of Covid-19, various media outlets reported on Friday.
The Times said an unnamed senior member of Japan’s government had conceded defeat in the city’s efforts to stage the Games, admitting the focus is now on securing the event for Tokyo in the next available year, 2032, according to the British newspaper.
The Games were placed in further jeopardy earlier this month when Tokyo declared a state of emergency due to an increasing number of coronavirus cases, and public opinion has swayed strongly towards canceling the event altogether.
On Thursday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, admitted “there is no plan B” over the staging of the sporting occasion, which is due to commence on July 23.
Spectator decision
Some 15,000 international athletes are expected to convene in Tokyo ahead of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will get underway on August 24.
Organizers are expected to make a decision in the coming weeks over whether the coronavirus risks have eased enough to let spectators attend the Games.
Previously, senior IOC member Dick Pound had suggested athletes should be at the front of the line for vaccines to boost the chances of the Olympics going ahead, though this prompted a backlash from the public, health experts, and athletes themselves.
This article was originally published on Deutsche Welle. Read the original article here.
READ NEXT: Can Taiwanese Liquors Follow Japan's Model To Global Success?
TNL Editor: Bryan Chou (@thenewslensintl)
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more story updates in your news feed, please be sure to follow our Facebook.
