Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (OG) chairman Yoshiro Mori said during a video conference in Tokyo on Thursday that the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, had guaranteed them full support.
Mr. Mori told reporters that Mr. Bach reiterated the determination of the IOC and all partners to organize the Games postponed from July 23 to August 8.
“He confirmed that not a single person raised any questions or objections,” added the former Japanese prime minister. “Everyone is sure they want to go to the Tokyo Olympics and guarantee the success of the Games.”
“We have a solid foundation and Mr. Bach is 100% behind us,” said Mori.
Mr. Bach reiterated the IOC’s commitment to organize the Tokyo Olympics after a meeting of the IOC Executive Board on Wednesday.
“We are fully focused and determined to ensure that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games run safely and successfully, starting July 23 for the Olympics and August 24 for the Paralympics,” he said. he assured during a press conference.
As Japan faces a resurgence of the coronavirus in recent months, media have claimed that the Olympics will once again be postponed, or even canceled.
“There is speculation about a cancellation or a plan B. Some have even proposed to postpone the Olympics until the year 2032,” Bach said. “But all of this speculation hurts athletes who have already overcome challenges in their daily training and in competition.”
“We are not wasting our time and energy on speculation. We are working on how the Games will go, we are totally focused on the opening ceremony on July 23 of this year.”
However, since Tokyo and ten other Japanese prefectures are in a state of a health emergency, the organizers are still facing increasing pressure to hold the Olympics.
