Japan tries to assures on 2021 Tokyo Olympics as IOC says no to more delays

A Japanese government spokesperson said Thursday that Japan wants to carry out its duty as Olympic host country next year amid reports that he Tokyo Summer Games would be cancelled if they are not held in 2021.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was responding to a BBC interview in which International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the Olympics cannot continue to be postponed past next year due to coronavirus and that cancelling would be the logical solution rather than look to 2022.

Suga said that "for the athletes to perform their best and for the audience to enjoy it safely with a peace a mind to carry out the games next year, we will work together the IOC and organizing committee and Tokyo government."

Earlier in the day, Tokyo 2020 Toshiro Muto said in a closed online news conference that coronavirus countermeasures will have to be taken at next year's Olympics, but he did not indicate that banning spectators was being planned.

(Representative Image) (Image Credit Pixabay)