Cancelling Olympics "impossible" says Tokyo chief

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Thursday said cancelling the summer Olympic Games was "impossible", amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus.

Koike said Tokyo was coordinating and closely discussing with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and organizers "toward holding the games."

Earlier on Thursday, Koike met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to call for additional support measures in dealing with the virus outbreak and its impact on the local economy.

The president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee said Wednesday he had received an apology from an executive board member who said the Games should be delayed a year to two because of the coronavirus.

"We are not thinking of changing directions nor changing plans at all," Mori said.

He was referring to comments form Haruyuki Takahashi reported in the Wall Street Journal.

"I spoke with Mr Takahashi immediately over the phone, he said he's deeply sorry, that it was a slight slip of the tongue and he wants to apologize for causing such trouble," Mori said, calling the initial remarks "outrageous."

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

Organizers and the IOC have repeatedly said the games will open on July 24 as planned, with the Paralympics opening on August 25.