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Jamie Gardner
There is no reason to believe that despite the recurrence of the coronavirus pandemic, the Olympic Games will not start as planned in Tokyo on July 23, said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
There were again calls to cancel the games. Olympic rowing champion Sir Matthew Pinsent suggested postponing the event to 2024 in order to prevent Tokyo from being canceled altogether.
Bach told the Japanese news agency Kyodo: « We currently have no reason to believe that the Tokyo Olympic Games will not open on July 23 at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.
« That’s why there is no plan B and that’s why we are fully committed to ensuring that these games are safe and successful. »
He accepted that measures such as reducing capacities or even holding the games completely behind closed doors had to be taken into account.« That is why I say » safety first « and not a taboo in the discussion to ensure safety. «
The Olympic and Paralympic Games were originally postponed last March and postponed for 12 months.
But even the newly scheduled games are now under pressure, and one by Ky odo conducted an opinion poll showed that 80 percent of those questioned wanted the games to be canceled or postponed again.
In response, Bach said: “From a human point of view, I have a certain understanding. It’s hard to imagine what will happen in six months.
« But at the time of the Games, the situation will be different and the actions taken will be different, » he said.
« I’m sure with that As the situation improves, these people will also think differently. «
Sir Keith Mills, CEO of London 2012, said earlier this week that it was » unlikely « that the games would take place amid rising infection rates and the emergence of variant strains of the virus could.
The President of World Athletics, Lord Coe, took on a more optimistic tone and said, « I don’t think it’ll be canceled.
» It’s going to be a challenge, we know it’s pretty of course, and there will be adjustments.
« But of all the countries on the planet that have the strength and resilience to keep this up, it is Japan. I wake up as President of the Federation and I am grateful that Japan is looking into this and not mi t other places to think of. “
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