Surveys suggest 80% of Japanese against Olympics

Tokyo 2020 organizers say preparations for Olympic Games are still underway, even after more than 80% of people in Japan who were surveyed in two polls in last few days say Tokyo Olympics should be canceled or postponed, or say y believe Olympics will t take place.

"To give joy and hope to many people, we will do our best until end," said Yoshiro Mori, President Tokyo 2020 on Tuesday during a New Year's dress.

polls were conducted by Japanese news ncy Kyodo and TBS — Tokyo Brocasting System.

results are b news for Tokyo organizers and International Olympic Committee as y continue to say postponed Olympics will open on July 23.

Tokyo is battling a surge of COVID-19 cases that prompted national government last week to call a state of emergency.

In declaring emergency, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he was confident Olympics would be held.

Japan has controlled virus relatively well but surge has heightened skepticism about need for Olympics and danger of potentially bringing 15,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes into country.

Olympics could also attract tens of thousands of coaches, judges, officials, VIPs, sponsors, media and brocasters. It is t clear if fans from abro will be allowed, or if local fans will attend events.

Japan has attributed about 3,800 deaths to COVID-19 in a country of 126 million.

TBS poll asked if Olympics can be held. In telephone survey with 1,261 responding, 81% replied "" with only 13% answering "yes." "" responses increased 18 percent points from a similar survey in December.

In Kyodo's poll, 80.1% of respondents in a telephone survey said Olympics should be canceled or rescheduled. same question in December found 63% calling for cancellation or postponement.

Kyodo said survey covered 715 randomly selected households with eligible voters. Neir poll listed a margin of error.